[For more current case annotated texts by this author, see Bernstein & Lookofsky, Understanding the CISG in Europe, 2d ed. (2003) and Lookofsky, Understanding the CISG in the USA, 2d ed. (2004).]

81. Article 8 of the CISG is concerned not with the interpretation of the Convention itself, but rather with the interpretation of 'statements' made (and conduct exhibited) by the parties, the buyer and seller in an international contract of sale. Article 8 provides as follows:

A. Subject Matter of Article 8: Statements and Conduct

82. The subject matter to be interpreted in accordance with Article 8 is the 'statements' (and conduct) of the parties, inter alia, the kind of statements made by the offeror and the offeree during the contract formation process as regulated by CISG Part II; indeed, Article.8 was originally drafted with sales contract formation in mind.[1] However, Article 8 came ultimately to be placed in CISG Part I, Chapter II, and its relevance as a General (part I) Provision therefore extends to Part III of the Convention as well.

83. Without straining the clear meaning of words, Article 8 would seem to govern the interpretation of an agreement containing 'statements' drafted ('made') by one party and then signed by the other.[1]

Moreover, although the terms of a document prepared with the full participation of both parties would seem difficult to subsume within the same ('statements ... of a [single] party') category, it might well be argued that the interpretation of such 'joint statements' is a matter governed by the Convention but not expressly settled in it; if so, this particular interpretation question should be similarly settled in conformity with the general interpretation principles laid down in Article 8.[2] [page 55]

B. Subjective and Objective Tests

84. Depending on the circumstances, the statements of the parties are to be interpreted pursuant to either a subjective or an objective test. One party's statements and conduct are to be interpreted subjectively, according to his intent under paragraph (1), where the other party knew or could not have been unaware what that intent was. Where, however, such other party neither knew nor could have been so aware, the first party's statements are to be interpreted objectively under paragraph (2), according to the understanding that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would have had.

C. Due Consideration to All Relevant Circumstances

85. Paragraph (3) is a qualification of the objective interpretation test set forth in paragraph (2). In determining the intent of a party or the understanding a reasonable person would have had, due consideration is to be given to all relevant circumstances of the case, including the negotiations, etc.

D. Common Law Parol Evidence Rule and Article 8

86. In those cases where the parties to a contract have memorialized their understanding in a written 'statement', courts in most Civil law jurisdictions, applying their domestic procedural law, will at least have the option to consider evidence (offered by one party) that a perhaps contradictory oral statement relating to the same contractual subject was also made.[l]

And because CISG Article 8 expressly requires that 'due consideration' be given to all (potentially) relevant circumstances, including the negotiations, most Convention commentators have argued that the 'parol evidence' rule (which, in reality, is a rule of substantive Common law)[2] is not compatible with the CISG.[3] Indeed, the parol rule seems so formalistic that it has even been seen as a source of 'embarrassment' to commentators residing in the Common law realm.[4]

In any case, the decisions of most American courts which thus far have addressed the issue are in agreement with the views previously set forth by the commentators: Article 8 is incompatible with - and precludes the application of - the (domestic) parol evidence rule in cases otherwise governed by the CISG.[5] [page 56]

On the other hand, Article 8 cannot - in and of itself (i.e., absent an express 'merger clause') - solve the hard problem of whether a given parol statement should be treated as 'part' of the contract;[6] i.e., as Common lawyers sometimes put it, the problem is whether the statement-maker 'intended' his statement to bind.[7] Within the CISG context, parol evidence type problems are likely to arise as regards the definition of conforming goods under Article 35, the question being whether a given oral statement made by the seller should be interpreted as a supplement and/or modification of the seller's written description of the goods.[8]