不可抗力(ForceMajeure)是指买卖合同签订后,不是由当事人的过失或疏忽,而是由于发生了当事人不能预见、无法预防、无法克服的意外事故致使合同不能履行或不能如期履行,发生意外事故的一方可以全部或部分免除履行合同的责任或延迟履行合同。
不可抗力条款主要规定以下内容:不可抗力事件的范围,不可抗力事件的处理原则和方法,不可抗力事件发生后通知对方的期限和方式,以及出具相应证明文件的机构等。例如:
If the shipment of the contracted goods is prevented or delayed in whole or in part by reason of war,earthquake,flood, fire, storm, heavy snow or other causes of Force Ma- jeure, the Seller shall not be liable for non-shipment or late shipment of the goods of this contract. However the Seller shall notify the Buyer by cable or telex and furnish the latter within xX days by registered airmail with a certificate issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade(ChinaChamber of International Commerce) attesting such events.
如因战争、地震、水灾、火灾、暴风雨、雪灾或其他不可抗力致使卖方不能全部或部分装运或延迟装运合同货物,卖方对这种不能装运或延迟装运合同货物不承担责任。但卖方须用电报或电传通知买方,并须在XX天内以航空挂号信件向买方提交由中国国际贸易促进委员会(中国国际商会)出具的证明此类事故的证明书。