此文担保条款是英文合同中多种担保或保证条款的统称,包括质量保证、权利担保和履约担保,在实际的英文合同中并不一定出现在“Warranty”这样的条款标题之下。它可能出现在 “Warranty and Service Responsibilities” 或者 “Representation, Warranty and Covenant” 标题之下,也可能以保证函(Letter of Guarantee)或者其他形式出现。
《中华人民共和国担保法》第2条规定:“在借贷、买卖、货物运输、加工承揽等经济活动中,债权人需要以担保方式保障其债权实现的,可以依照本法设定担保”( In such economic activities as loans, sales, goods freight and hire of processing work, etc., where the creditor needs to safeguard the realization of his obligatory right by the way of guarantee ,a guarantee may be established in accordance with the provisions of this law)。英文合同中的当事人可以在合同中约定担保,担保人在约定的担保范围内承担责任(In the contract the parties may agree to provide a guaranty. The guarantor shall be held liable within the agreed scope of guaranty)。在英文合同 中设立担保的法律意义在于:督促债 务人(obligor)履行债务,或在债务人不能履行时,使债权人(obligee)的权利得到一定补偿。
按照各国的法律,担保可以分为物的担保和人的担保两类,分属不同的法律范畴,物的担保属于财产法的范畴,大陆法将关于物权担保的规定归入民法物权篇; 而人的担保则属于债法的范畴,大陆法将其归人民法债权篇,在英美法中关于人的担保规定在合同法内。从我国订立的英文合同的实际情况来看,英文合同中约定的担保,一般指品质担保(guaranty of quality)、权利担保(guaranty of right)和履约担 保(guaranty of performance),这与《中华人民共和国担保法》中规定的担保方式(抵押、质押、保证)有所不同。
一、品质担保/质量保证(Guaranty of Quality)
品质担保主要指合同的一方就合同标的物的品质向合同的另一方所作的担保。担保条款常见于国际货物买卖合同和国际技术转让合词中,前者主要是合同中的卖方就货物的品质向买方作出的担保,在起草时应着重约定,卖方所提供的货物必须符合合同规定的质量、规格和性能(correspond in all respects with the quality, specifications and performance as stipulated in the contract),同时还应约定一定时限的质量保证期;后者主要是合同中的出让方向受让方保证有关出让方所提供技术资料是出让方实际使用的最好资料;以及向受让方保证所提供的技术资料的完整性、正确性和清晰性(completeness,correctness and legibility)等。
【例1】
卖方保证所交货物是用最上等的材料和高超工艺制成,全新、未曾用过的并完全符合合同规定的质量、规格和性能。卖方并保证货物在正确安装、正确使用和维护的情况下,自货物到达目的地之日起两年内运转良好。
The Seller shall guarantee that the goods supplied by the Seller are made of the best materials, with first-class workmanship, brand new, unused and correspond in all respects with the quality, specifications and performance as stipulated in this Contract. The Seller shall also guarantee that the goods when correctly mounted and properly operated and maintained,shall gave satisfactory performance for a period of two (2) years starting from the date on which the goods arrive at the port of destination.