[LINK] Fwd: Draft un treaty to ease global electronic commerce moves forward

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> DRAFT UN TREATY TO EASE GLOBAL ELECTRONIC COMMERCE MOVES FORWARD
> New York, Mar 22 2004  5:00PM
> The chief United Nations body overseeing international trade law 
> policies has taken a step closer to a treaty that would create a 
> unified legal regime for worldwide electronic commerce, removing 
> barriers and lowering costs for companies using the Internet to 
> conduct business.
>
> The recommendation on a draft text adopted Friday at the conclusion of 
> a week-long meeting by the UN Commission on International Trade Law's 
> (UNCITRAL) Working Group on Electronic Commerce will be submitted to 
> the Commission's next full session in June. The text focuses on areas 
> such as legal electronic transactions, data exchanges and e-mail 
> messages.
>
> "This work will benefit world trade as it will enable and encourage 
> the greater use of e-commerce," said the group's chairman, Jeffrey 
> Chan of Singapore. He noted that more trade transactions are being 
> conducted through electronic means, and the Internet in particular has 
> grown to be a powerful tool for business.
>
> "The problem is that, in international business, different countries 
> have different legal rules for contracts," creating uncertainty when 
> the same transaction is conducted across international borders, Mr. 
> Chan added. Companies often must hire lawyers in different countries 
> to advise them, adding to the cost of doing business.
>
> The chairman said that with a treaty to create a uniform legal regime 
> for such transactions, confidence in e-commerce would get a boost and 
> costs could be cut. "With this, there can be an expansion of 
> international trading transactions," he said.
>
> Jonas Astrup, who attended the meeting for the International Chamber 
> of Commerce, said his organization favoured the alternative of 
> self-regulation by industry. The ICC is addressing the contractual 
> questions of e-commerce by developing "e-Terms 2004," voluntary rules 
> to help companies negotiate contracts electronically, Mr. Astrup 
> added.
>
> On the other hand, "the draft convention has very useful aspects, such 
> as recognition of data messages, and is in synergy with our tools," 
> such as contract guidance and model clauses, Mr. Astrup said. The 
> International Chamber of Commerce set up its own task force which last 
> year submitted comments on the scope and purposes of the draft 
> convention.
>
> UNCITRAL works to modernize and harmonize the rules of international 
> business. As trade means faster growth, higher living standards, and 
> new opportunities through commerce, the Commission also seeks to 
> increase these opportunities worldwide by formulating modern, fair, 
> and harmonized rules on commercial transactions.
>  2004-03-22 00:00:00.000
>
> ________________
>
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