Basic rules to conclude an international contract during CIIE

第二届上海进博会即将开始，很多外商将与国内企业签订大量的货物买卖合同，如何签订一份有效且合理的涉外合同，上海金沁律师事务所律师陈红敏律师建议注意如下几点：

The second China International Import Expo will be held in days, companies from countries will conclude contracts of sales of goods with Chinese companies. Lawyer Chen Hongmin of Kingtham lawyers suggests the followings as basic rules to conclude a lawful and reasonable international contract.

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1. 签订主体：需一方为中国企业，另一方为外国企业。如双方都为中国企业，则不是涉外法律关系，无法适用国际条约、惯例等，适用中国国内法。

Parties of contract: one party shall be Chinese company, the other party shall be company of other country. If both parties are Chinese companies, the contract is not a foreign one to which the treaties and international practices do not apply. In such condition, Chinese laws will apply.

2. 选择适用的法律：买卖双方可明确选择某国际条约、惯例或者某国家法律。此点尤为重要，因为选择适用法律就是选择了双方的权利、义务及其法律后果。同时在选择incoterms时，要明确版本，如incoterms 2000, incoterms 2010等。

Applicable laws: both buyer and seller could choose the accurate treaties, international practices or laws of specified country. The applicable laws will lead to instruct rights and obligations of parties and the legal consequences. If the intercoms are chosen, the edition of the intercoms shall be clear such like intercoms 2000, intercoms 2010.

3. 保留货物所有权的适当约定：卖方可以约定保留货物所有权，在全部货款支付完毕后再将所有权转移至买方，这样可以防止“钱货两空”的局面，降低追索所有权的法律风险。

Ownership reservation: the seller can claim the ownership reservation of goods. The ownership of goods will be transferred to buyer only under the condition of buyer pays the full price. This term shall reduce the legal risk of being trapped in losing goods and money.

4. 管辖法院或仲裁院：如选择仲裁院解决争诉，则需在合同中明确约定具体仲裁院的名称，否则任何一方均可向有管辖权的法院提起诉讼，如买方可以在中国法院提起诉讼，由中国法院管辖受理争议案件。

Jurisdiction of court or arbitration court: if both parties chose arbitration court to solve disputes, accurate name of arbitration court shall be written in the contract, or else, either party is entitled to sue to the court. For example, if the Chinese buyer filed the dispute in Chinese court, the dispute will be under the jurisdiction of Chinese court.

上述几点为涉外合同中最基础的法律约定， 因涉及买卖双方权利、义务，运输条款，保险条款，进出海关等，为了解中国交易习惯及中国市场操作实践情况，降低法律风险、避免争诉，建议外商在谈判、拟定、履行买卖合同时，应聘请中国当地律师全方位参与及提出法律建议，在本届进博会中顺利进行交易。

Above all are basic rules of concluding an international contract. Because an international contract of sales of goods is complex which includes the rights and obligations of seller and buyer, transportation terms, insurance terms, customs clearance etc, for the seller knowing better of Chinese local trading customs and practices, Lawyer Chen Hongmin suggests foreign seller hire Chinese local lawyer participate in and provide legal opinion in the whole process of negotiation, conclusion and performance of the international contract during CIIE.