Seller’s Obligations Under the International Sales Contract

Abstract This chapter examines the seller’s obligations in international sales contracts under the CISG, ICC Incoterms 2020, and trade usages. It analyses the hierarchy of legal sources, emphasizing that the contract trade terms prevail, with the CISG operating as default or supplementary rules. The chapter explores delivery obligations—including place, time, and mode of delivery—under Articles 30 to 33 CISG and relevant Incoterms provisions, distinguishing between contracts involving and not involving carriage. It also addresses the importance of trade documents and the seller’s obligations regarding costs, licences, and clarifies the limits of the CISG’s regulation of property transfer. Finally, the chapter discusses additional obligations arising from the contract, practices, usages, and general principles, including the duty to cooperate and its role in ensuring effective contract performance, particularly in long-term relationships.