The Guide on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts in the Americas, recently approved by the Inter-American Juridical Committee at its regular session held in February 2019, has already received enthusiastic support for its adoption and dissemination from other international organizations specialized in this field. 

On March 4, 2019, the American Association of Private International Law (ASADIP) adopted a “Declaration” in which it offers support for the Guide, commits itself to efforts to persuade national authorities of the importance of the Guide in promoting harmonization with international standards, and agrees to give the Guide the widest possible dissemination in academia and the legal field.   

Upon completion of its recent March 2019 session, the Council on General Affairs and Policy of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), included in its “Conclusions and Recommendations”, the following acknowledgement: “Council noted the publication of the [OAS Guide] and welcomed the Permanent Bureau’s cooperation with the OAS in this regard.”

Similarly, the Secretary General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)  has advised that the Guide will be presented during the forthcoming session of its Governing Council.

ASADIP, HCCH and UNIDROIT have been among those international organizations and international experts that were consulted during the development of the Guide and that provided comments on earlier drafts. The Department of International Law maintains its cooperative relations with these and other international organizations in furtherance of the specific mandate from the OAS General Assembly “to promote the dissemination of private international law among member states, in collaboration with other organizations and associations that work in this area” (Resolution “International Law”, AG/RES. 2909 - XLVIII-0/18).  

The American Bar Association, Section of International Law (ABA/SIL), was also among those that had provided comments during the process. By means of a Cooperation Agreement signed in 2017, a framework was created by which ABA and the OAS, through its Department of International Law, would collaborate to promote the rule of law and development of international law within the region. In furtherance of this initiative, on April 9th 2019 the ABA/SIL and the Department will present two panels to showcase recent achievements. One of these panels will feature a discussion on the Guide on the Law Applicable to International Commercial Contracts in the Americas.  More information about this event will be forthcoming shortly.