Module - International Law of the Sale of Goods

Module aims

To provide the students with a detailed understanding of key areas of international trade law.

To provide an appreciation of the role of law in the sphere of international sales.

To enable students recognise legal issues in the conduct of business decision making and in particular to gain an understanding of the law applicable to agreements and their negotiation.

To develop students' capacity for critical analysis and logical thinking and to encourage independent learning.

To develop a general range of transferable and generic skills in problem-solving and reasoning, time-management and written and oral communication.

Intended learning outcomes

To demonstrate a thorough understanding and knowledge of the law relating to international trade law.

To apply the relevant principles of international trade law to analyse and solve hypothetical practical problems.

To develop the students' knowledge and understanding of the area through independent reading.

To analyse and provide lively comment and useful reflection on the various rules, policies and procedures of international sales law that may be subject to academic or legal debate.

Transferable skills etc

On completion of the module the participant will have had the opportunity to:

Provide a practical understanding of how established techniques of research enquiry are used to create and develop knowledge in the subject.

Provide an ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the subject area and to advance new or critical commentaries on the subject.

Develop an ability to deal with complex data and knowledge and to communicate an understanding of this to specialists and non-specialists utilising accurate legal techniques.

Engage in academic debate and present ideas and opinions in a structured and accurate manner.

Develop an excellent ability at writing in fluent and accurate prose, using correct terminology and utilising accurate referencing techniques.

Provide the motivation to engage in further independent research and study

Task details and instructions

New Fads Ltd, (the seller) agrees to sell computer components on "fob" terms to Bell Ltd., (the buyer) a company based in Nigeria. Shipment scheduled for October, fob Liverpool. The following fax was received from the buyer on 07 April: "We intend to nominate The Moyvale which will be entering port on 13 April. Ship will be ready to load on 15 April".

Owing to an oversight of an employee of New Fads Ltd (the seller) the fax was not brought to the attention of New Fads Ltd. until the 15th April. It is uncertain if normal loading rate (specified in the contract) will enable completion of loading before the expiry of the shipment period.

In the interim the goods are kept in a warehouse in Manchester. On 14 April a massive strike was called by rail workers whichparalysed the rail network.

Advise the parties to the fob contract.