四、如何起草涉外合同中的不可抗力條款

如前所述，各國對於不可抗力均有各自不同的認識和規定/裁判規則。大部分大陸法係國家將不可抗力規定為一種法定免責事由（如法國
、德國及我國）
，所(suo)以(yi)即(ji)便(bian)在(zai)合(he)同(tong)沒(mei)有(you)約(yue)定(ding)的(de)情(qing)況(kuang)下(xia)，當(dang)事(shi)人(ren)亦(yi)可(ke)引(yin)用(yong)法(fa)律(lv)予(yu)以(yi)免(mian)責(ze)。與(yu)此(ci)同(tong)時(shi)，普(pu)通(tong)法(fa)係(xi)國(guo)家(jia)並(bing)沒(mei)有(you)相(xiang)關(guan)規(gui)定(ding)，故(gu)若(ruo)雙(shuang)方(fang)沒(mei)有(you)約(yue)定(ding)的(de)，僅(jin)可(ke)引(yin)用(yong)履(lv)行(xing)不(bu)現(xian)實(shi)或(huo)合(he)同(tong)受(shou)挫(cuo)等(deng)製(zhi)度(du)尋(xun)求(qiu)救(jiu)濟(ji)。但(dan)根(gen)據(ju)普(pu)遍(bian)接(jie)受(shou)的(de)契(qi)約(yue)自(zi)由(you)及(ji)有(you)約(yue)必(bi)守(shou)原(yuan)則(ze)，若(ruo)合(he)同(tong)各(ge)方(fang)有(you)明(ming)確(que)約(yue)定(ding)且(qie)該(gai)約(yue)定(ding)不(bu)存(cun)在(zai)根(gen)據(ju)準(zhun)據(ju)法(fa)不(bu)發(fa)生(sheng)效(xiao)力(li)或(huo)不(bu)適(shi)用(yong)之(zhi)事(shi)由(you)
，則(ze)合(he)同(tong)可(ke)最(zui)大(da)程(cheng)度(du)的(de)減(jian)少(shao)不(bu)確(que)定(ding)性(xing)並(bing)按(an)照(zhao)各(ge)方(fang)預(yu)期(qi)發(fa)揮(hui)作(zuo)用(yong)。下(xia)文(wen)嚐(chang)試(shi)探(tan)討(tao)如(ru)何(he)起(qi)草(cao)涉(she)外(wai)合(he)同(tong)中(zhong)的(de)不(bu)可(ke)抗(kang)力(li)條(tiao)款(kuan)。

1. 定義“不可抗力”

無論以哪國法律為準據法，均存在不能覆蓋合同當事人可能遭受的不可抗力全部情形之可能，故在合同中增加對構成合同項下“不可抗力”的概括性描述，並使之盡可能覆蓋雙方均認可之情形，就顯得尤為重要。筆者以為
，相關條款可參考ICC製定的《不可抗力及艱難情形條款2020》，具體如下：

“不可抗力”指阻止或妨礙一方當事人履行合同項下的一項或多項義務的事件或情況（“不可抗力事件”）發生，且受障礙影響的當事人（“受影響的當事人”）證明：

a) 該障礙超出其合理控製範圍；和

b) 該障礙在訂立合同時無法被合理預見；同時

c) 障礙的後果無法被受影響的當事人合理避免或克服。

不可抗力的定義所規定的援引該條款的門檻低於履行不能。這體現在上述（a）至（c）項條件中明確提及的合理性要求[1]。

Definition. “Force Majeure” means the occurrence of an event or circumstance (“Force Majeure Event”) that prevents or impedes a party from performing one or more of its contractual obligations under the Contract, if and to the extent that the party affected by the impediment (“the Affected Party”) proves:

a) that such impediment is beyond its reasonable control; and

b) that it could not reasonably have been foreseen at the time of the conclusion of the Contract; and

c) that the effects of the impediment could not reasonably have been avoided or overcome by the Affected Party.

The definition of Force Majeure provides a lower threshold for invoking the clause than impossibility of performance. This is expressed by the reference to reasonableness in conditions (a) to (c) of the clause.

2. 列舉不可抗力事件

具體事件可以自然災害（極端自然事件）、流行疾病、政府行為、國內及國際社會性事件等為角度進行分類
，結合ICC《不可抗力及艱難情形條款2020》相關條款，舉例如下：

在沒有相反證據的情況下
，下列影響一方當事人的事件應推定符合本不可抗力條款第 1條中規定的條件（a）和（b），受影響的當事人僅需證明該事件滿足第一條中的條件（c）：

推tui定ding不bu可ke抗kang力li事shi件jian通tong常chang能neng夠gou滿man足zu不bu可ke抗kang力li要yao求qiu的de條tiao件jian。因yin此ci，假jia定ding這zhe些xie事shi件jian中zhong的de一yi項xiang或huo多duo項xiang發fa生sheng，不bu可ke抗kang力li條tiao件jian就jiu得de到dao滿man足zu，受shou影ying響xiang的de當dang事shi人ren無wu需xu證zheng明ming本ben不bu可ke抗kang力li條tiao款kuan第di1條（a）和（b）項的條件的滿足（即該事件超出其控製範圍且是無法預見的），而將證明相反情況的責任留給合同相對人。在任何情況下，援引不可抗力的當事人必須證明條件（c）的存在，即障礙的後果不可能被合理地避免或克服。

(1)自然災害或極端自然天氣，如地震、台風
、海嘯
、暴雨、暴雪、寒潮
、大風
、沙塵暴等；

(2)瘟疫、流行病
；

(3)戰爭（無論是否宣戰）

，敵對行動

，入侵，外敵行動，大規模軍事動員；

(4)內戰

，暴亂
，叛亂和革命，軍事政變或篡權，暴動，恐怖主義行為，破壞或海盜活動

；

(5)合法或非法的政府行為
，如政府或其他權力機關發布法律規定，政府命令（如因“國家安全”
、“外交政策”等因素被禁止交易等）、征收或其他國有化行為、征用
、查封
、扣押
、凍結，以及包括對象為貨幣在內的金融資本政策、貿易限製、關閉運河
、禁運
、製裁；

(6)普遍的勞工騷亂，如抵製，罷工和封門，怠工，工廠和場所的占領;

(7)爆炸
，火災
，設備損壞，運輸、電信、信息係統或能源的長期崩潰。

Presumed Force Majeure Events. In the absence of proof to the contrary, the following events affecting a party shall be presumed to fulfil conditions (a) and (b) under paragraph 1 of this Clause, and the Affected Party only needs to prove that condition (c) of paragraph 1 is satisfied:

The Presumed Force Majeure Events commonly qualify as Force Majeure. It is therefore presumed that in the presence of one or more of these events the conditions of Force Majeure are fulfilled, and the Affected Party need not prove the conditions (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 of this Clause (i.e. that the event was out of its control and unforeseeable), leaving to the other party the burden of proving the contrary. The party invoking Force Majeure must in any case prove the existence of condition (c), i.e. that the effects of the impediment could not reasonably have been avoided or overcome.

a)      natural disaster or extreme natural event, including but not limited to earthquake, typhoon, tsunami, rainstorm, blizzard, cold wave, gale, sandstorm;

b)      plague and epidemic;

c)      war (whether declared or not), hostilities, invasion, act of foreign enemies, extensive military mobilization;

d)      civil war, riot, rebellion and revolution, military or usurped power, insurrection, act of terrorism, sabotage or piracy;

e)      act of authority whether lawful or unlawful, compliance with any regulation, law or governmental order (such as ban on transaction), expropriation, nationalization, requisition, seizure or frozen of account, financial policy, trade restrictions, unavailability of canal, embargo, sanction;

f)        general labor disturbance such as boycott, strike and lock-out, go-slow, occupation of factories and premises;

g)      explosion, fire, destruction of equipment, prolonged break-down of transport, telecommunication, information system or energy.

xuyaoshuomingdeshi，dangshirenyingjiehejutijiaoyimoshijiyuzhixiangguandekenengfashengdefengxian

，laiduibukekanglishijianjinxingzengjiahuoshanchu。yibanketongguozhengxiangliejudefangshiliemingkekanglishijian，danruqianwensuoshu，renhegaikuoxingdemiaoshujuncunzaidingyibugoujingquedefengxian，qiexiangguanshijianduiyuhetongdangshirendeyingxiangyicunzaichayi
，gujianyidangshirengenjugefangyiyuanyijijiaoyixuyaoduibukekanglishijianjinxingjutimiaoshu，ru7級(ji)以(yi)上(shang)的(de)台(tai)風(feng)等(deng)。此(ci)外(wai)，當(dang)事(shi)人(ren)亦(yi)可(ke)考(kao)慮(lv)從(cong)反(fan)向(xiang)排(pai)除(chu)角(jiao)度(du)來(lai)說(shuo)明(ming)何(he)種(zhong)情(qing)況(kuang)不(bu)構(gou)成(cheng)不(bu)可(ke)抗(kang)力(li)，如(ru)因(yin)第(di)三(san)人(ren)自(zi)身(shen)原(yuan)因(yin)造(zao)成(cheng)的(de)違(wei)約(yue)不(bu)構(gou)成(cheng)不(bu)可(ke)抗(kang)力(li)。

3. 通知義務

縱(zong)觀(guan)各(ge)國(guo)對(dui)於(yu)不(bu)可(ke)抗(kang)力(li)的(de)規(gui)定(ding)及(ji)有(you)關(guan)判(pan)例(li)，均(jun)有(you)不(bu)同(tong)程(cheng)度(du)的(de)關(guan)於(yu)遭(zao)受(shou)不(bu)可(ke)抗(kang)力(li)一(yi)方(fang)應(ying)當(dang)及(ji)時(shi)履(lv)行(xing)通(tong)知(zhi)義(yi)務(wu)及(ji)若(ruo)不(bu)履(lv)行(xing)通(tong)知(zhi)義(yi)務(wu)時(shi)不(bu)能(neng)免(mian)責(ze)的(de)規(gui)定(ding)
，筆(bi)者(zhe)以(yi)為(wei)，通(tong)知(zhi)條(tiao)款(kuan)可(ke)以(yi)包(bao)括(kuo)及(ji)時(shi)通(tong)知(zhi)義(yi)務(wu)、通知內容、對合同履行可能產生的影響以及若不履行通知義務時應當承擔的責任

，具體舉例如下：

受到不可抗力影響的一方應當在遭受不可抗力後的合理時間內（最遲不得超過15日）通知其他方，通知應當為書麵形式；

通知內容應當包括對不可抗力因素的描述、不可抗力的發生情況
、不可抗力發生和預計結束時間及對合同履行可能產生的全部影響；

遭受不可抗力一方應當在通知中列明需要延期履行、全部或部分解除合同等要求。需要時，遭受不可抗力一方可在合同中列明對合同的標的、金額等條款進行變更的請求
；

若遭受不可抗力一方未能履行通知義務的，則當事方不可引用不可抗力條款而予以免責（責任包括合同義務及因違約而應承擔的責任）。

Notification. The Affected Party shall give notice of the event to the other party without any delay or in any event within fifteen days of the occurrence of the Force Majeure;

The Written notice shall include the identification and detailed description of such Force Majeure, the expected duration of the event and explanation of how such Force Majeure may impact the performance of the Contract;

The Affected Party shall identify the relief the force majeure notice seeks, such as extension of time to perform, fully or partially termination of the Contract. If needed, The Affected Party may explain the need to amend the Contract;

Force Majeure shall not relieve a party of its obligations or liability hereunder if the Affected party fails to give notice to the other party.

4. 不可抗力後的權利義務分配

通tong常chang情qing況kuang下xia，遭zao受shou不bu可ke抗kang力li的de一yi方fang可ke免mian於yu履lv行xing義yi務wu且qie不bu承cheng擔dan違wei約yue責ze任ren，但dan對dui於yu免mian責ze的de範fan圍wei及ji其qi他ta方fang可ke以yi采cai取qu的de救jiu濟ji措cuo施shi，雙shuang方fang可ke以yi在zai合he同tong中zhong進jin行xing具ju體ti約yue定ding，如ru在zai何he種zhong情qing況kuang下xia遭zao受shou不bu可ke抗kang力li一yi方fang仍reng應ying承cheng擔dan責ze任ren、哪些義務不受不可抗力條款保護、何種情況下任何一方均可終止/解除合同及另一方以采取的救濟措施，結合ICC《不可抗力及艱難情形條款2020》相關條款

，筆者試舉例如下：

成cheng功gong援yuan引yin本ben不bu可ke抗kang力li條tiao款kuan的de當dang事shi人ren，從cong障zhang礙ai導dao致zhi合he同tong無wu法fa履lv行xing時shi起qi，被bei免mian除chu履lv行xing合he同tong項xiang下xia的de義yi務wu，免mian除chu賠pei償chang任ren何he損sun失shi或huo任ren何he其qi他ta違wei約yue救jiu濟ji的de責ze任ren，前qian提ti是shi遭zao受shou不bu可ke抗kang力li一yi方fang及ji時shi向xiang合he同tong相xiang對dui人ren發fa出chu通tong知zhi、采取一切合理措施減少不可抗力事件對合同履行的影響且對於損害的發生沒有過錯。

如果所援引的障礙或事件的影響是暫時的
，一旦障礙不再妨礙其履行合同義務，受影響的當事人必須立即通知合同相對人。

如果所援引障礙的期限、bukekanglidexingzhihuobukekanglichanshengdeyingxiangshizhishangboduoleshuangfangdangshirenhetongxiayingyoudeheliqiwang，zerenheyifangjunyouquantongguozaiheliqixianneitongzhihetongxiangduirenyizhongzhihetong。

若一方遭不可抗力事件影響的時間超過連續的三個月（或累計超過6個月的）

，另一方有權以書麵通知的方式終止/解除合同。該情形下
，合同自通知到達/發出後的7日內解除。該情況下，合同自通知到達遭受不可抗力一方時終止/解除。

Consequences of Force Majeure. A party successfully invoking this Clause is relieved from its duty to perform its obligations under the Contract and from any liability in damages or from any other contractual remedy for breach of the Contract from the time at which the impediment causes inability to perform, provided that:

a)      the notice thereof is given without delay, and

b)      the Affected party has taken all necessary steps towards mitigating the effect of such event, and

c)      the Affected party is without fault.

Where the effect of the impediment or event invoked is temporary, The Affected Party must notify the other party as soon as the impediment ceases to impede perform.

Where the duration, the impact of the impediment invoked or the severity of the impediment has the effect of substantially depriving the contracting parties of what they were reasonably entitled to expect under the Contract, either party has the right to terminate the Contract by notification within a reasonable period to the other party.

If the Affected party is affected by a Force Majeure for a continuous period of 3 months (or for periods which, when aggregated over any period of 6 months totals 3 months) then the other party shall be entitled to terminate by notice in writing to the Affected party. In this event, the termination shall take effect after the notice is received by the Affected party.

結語

不可抗力作為合同的重要條款之一，其本質作用之一在於分配風險
，同時給予合同方在出現不可預料事件時免責和/或終止/解除合同的救濟途徑，該條款對於保護交易

、平衡當事人權利義務具有重要作用。根據契約自由及意思自治原則，在不違背準據法的基礎之上，當事人可自由對不可抗力條款（尤其是對不可抗力發生時損失應承擔等）進jin行xing約yue定ding
，本ben文wen嚐chang試shi以yi不bu可ke抗kang力li條tiao款kuan視shi角jiao
，討tao論lun了le起qi草cao不bu可ke抗kang力li條tiao款kuan應ying當dang注zhu意yi的de事shi項xiang以yi及ji完wan善shan建jian議yi，以yi期qi能neng夠gou為wei當dang事shi人ren如ru何he通tong過guo明ming確que合he同tong約yue定ding來lai減jian少shao合he同tong履lv行xing中zhong的de不bu確que定ding性xing提ti供gong起qi草cao思si路lu。

注釋：

[1] ICC 《不可抗力及艱難情形條款2020》（詳版）第1條。