GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)

While domestic sales laws differ substantially from country to country, the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) provides a uniform legal framework for cross-border trade in goods, ratified by a large number of states worldwide.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/salegoods/conventions/sale_of_goods/cisg

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Definition & Explanation

While domestic sales laws differ substantially from country to country, the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) provides a uniform legal framework for cross-border trade in goods, ratified by a large number of states worldwide. It governs contract formation, delivery and payment obligations, liability for non-conforming goods, transfer of risk, and remedies for breach. The Convention applies automatically when both contracting parties are based in different member states – unless they explicitly opt out or designate another governing law. For exporters and importers, this removes the need to negotiate which national law applies and reduces legal uncertainty in international transactions. Consumer sales and certain specific sectors such as securities or vessel trading fall outside its scope.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/un-convention-on-contracts-for-the-international-sale-of-goods-cisg), accessed 2026-11-10
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/un-convention-on-contracts-for-the-international-sale-of-goods-cisg
BibTeX: @misc{unconventionon2026, title = {UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/un-convention-on-contracts-for-the-international-sale-of-goods-cisg}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-11-10} }

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