Chapter 8 Export Business Negotiation and Conclusion of Contract

Chapter 8 Export Business Negotiation and Conclusion of Contract Abstract: This chapter tells the general procedures of business negotiation, the basical contents and establishment of contract, etc.Section 1: Form and content of business negotiationSection 2: general procedure in business negotiationSection 3: Establishment time and essential conditions of contractSection 4: Formation and main contents of contact

Section 1: Form and content of business negotiation1. The form of business negotiationTwo forms: Oral form and written form 2. Main contents of business negotiation1Main terms of trade It includes quality, quantity, packaging, price, delivering and terms of payment, etc.2General Terms and Conditions

Section 2: general procedure in business negotiation1. InquiryThe seller and the buyer both can make an inquiry. Usually, the inquiry made by the buyer is also called bid, and the inquiry made by the seller is also called selling inquiry. Inquiry will not bind upon both parties, but usually when you received an inquiry, you should reply it as soon as possible

2. Offer 1The meaning of an offerthe definition of offer stipulated inconventionThe party who makes an offer is called an offeror, in the case of the seller, the offer is called a selling offer, while in the case of the buyer, and it is called a buying offer.2The basic conditions of an offer1. The offer shall be made to one or more specific personsThe offer shall be the definite representation in which the offeror expresses that he shall conclude transaction on the terms and conditions stipulated therein.

2. Contents of the offer shall be sufficiently definite, i.e., trade terms of the offer shall be complete, clear and final1The Convention stipulates that a sufficiently definite offer should include three basic elements: name, quantity and price 2In our foreign trade practice, a complete offer shall include the quality, quantity, packing, price, terms of delivery of the goods and terms of payment.

3. The offer shall indicate the intention of the offeror to be bound in case of acceptance This intention may be indicated by terms as firm offer, offer with engagement, etc.

If the offer has a restrictive condition, i.e., subject to our final confirmation, then its a non-firm offer regarded as an invitation for offer.

(3) Time of Validity or Duration of Offer1 Stipulate the term of validity clearly The term of validity is not an indispensable condition of an offer 1Stipulate the latest date for acceptanceFor example: OFFER SUBJECT TO REPLY HERE FIFTEENTH, JULY. 2Stipulate a period of time for acceptanceAs to this method, there is a question of computing validity time. See article 20 of convention.

2. If an offer doesnt clearly stipulate the time of validity, it will be valid within a reasonable time. An oral offer, unless otherwise agreed, must be accepted immediately unless the circumstances indicate otherwise.(4) Time that an offer becomes effectiveDifferent views of the time that a written form offer becomes effective 1Despatch Theory2Arrival TheoryBoth convention and our contract law adopt arrival theory.

5. Withdrawal or revocation of an offer 1. WithdrawalThe British laws and the American laws have different explanations to withdrawalThe spirit of Convention Suitable occasion for withdrawal: The offer is sent by mail or telegram 2. RevocationAs to whether an offer can be revoked or not, different laws have different explanationsThe convention adopts a compromise regulation

(6) Termination of an offerIn the following cases, an offer is terminated:The time validity stipulated in the offer becomes due;The offeree rejects or makes a counter offer;The oferer revokes the offer before acceptance.

3. Counter-Offer(1) A reply to an offer which alter the terms of the offer materially constitutes a counter-offer(2) An acceptance with restrictive conditions is another form of counter-offer, such as subject to our final confirmation.(3) If offeree accepts the original offer after he made a counter-offer, the contract is invalid.

4. Acceptance A statement made by or other conduct of the offeree indicating assent to an offer is an acceptance.(1) The meaning of acceptance(2) The essential conditions of acceptance

Acceptance shall be made by a specific offeree.Acceptance shall be declared in certain waysStatement. Acceptance shall be declared orally or in a written form, silence or in activity does not in itself amount to acceptance.Performing an Act. Usually, this means that the seller has shipped the goods or the buyer has paid the purchasing price.

3. Acceptance shall be in accordance with the offer4. Acceptance shall reach the offeror within the time of validity5. The offeree in sending his acceptance should use the means authorized by the offer.

If the offeree varies the means the normal rule applies and the acceptance becomes effective only when it is actually communicated.

(3) Time that an acceptance becomes effectiveThe British laws and American laws adopt Despatch TheoryThe law of Continental countries and convention adopt Arrival Theory.An acceptance of an offer becomes effective at the moment the indication of assent reaches the offeror.(4) Late Acceptance Late acceptance is generally considered invalid.

(5) Withdrawal and modification of an acceptanceThe conditions of withdrawal and modification: See article 22 of "convention"When acceptance becomes effective, the contract becomes effective too, so there is no withdrawal anymore.An acceptance may be withdrawn if the withdrawal reaches the offeror before or at the same time as the acceptance would have become effective.When we take the form of fax, EDI, e-mail, etc., to make a contract, neither offer nor can acceptance be withdrawal.

Section 3: Establishment time and essential conditions of contract1. Establishment time of contract Two standards for judgment: 1. When the effective acceptance reaches offeror; 2. When offeree make the behavior of accepting.2. The essential conditions of a contract come into effective:1, contracting parties should have signing ability 2, 3, the content of the contract should be legal 4, the contract should conform to legal formarity 5, contracting parties' meaning expresses should be true

Section 4: Formation and main contents of contactFormation of contactWritten contractIt is the basis that the contract is established It is the basis of fulfilling contract It is the basis that the contract comes into force It is the basis of arbitration or lawsuit.

(2) Oral form(3) Other forms

2. Main parts of contract PreambleBodyWitness clause

SummaryThis chapter has mainly introduced the general procedures of business negotiation, the basical contents and establishment of contract, etc.Key point of this chapter: offer, acceptanceDifficult point: the explanation of offer and acceptance in convention.

Questions: 1. What are the essential conditions of an offer? 2. According to the regulation of "convention", when the offer can be withdrawal and revoked? 3. When an offer is terminated? 4. Try to analyze the effectiveness of a late acceptance. 5. What are the essential conditions of a contract established?