"Dr. Gao finds the best provisions and practices in respect of the fraud rule in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and applies these standards to the reformulation of the fraud rule in the PRC. In the process be surveys the entire field of the fraud rule in the law of letters of credit in its substantive aspects, thus going deeper than mere banking law analyses and revealing, for the benefit of jurists everywhere, the fundamental legal issues that must underlie all sound judicial reasoning in the area. In more practical terms, this approach also allows judges to meet their essential responsibility - that of giving an answer when a case is put before them - with the widest and best possible degree of discernment."--BOOK JACKET.

This treatise addresses all standby and commercial letter of credit problems and provides guidance through the case law under UCC Article 5. Establishing, amending, and terminating the letter of credit is discussed in detail.

According to many cases, it has been demonstrated that sellers with bad intentions have manipulated letters of credit system in many ways, including fraud. Thus, many legal jurisdictions have recognized the fraud exception rule. In order to apply such exception, some conditions must be met. Among these conditions, the bank,Äôs knowledge and a requirement of a clear evidence. Notably, the bank,Äôs knowledge is crucial, meaning that the establishment of the sole exception will depend upon the status of the bank,Äôs knowledge. Meaning that if the bank is aware of existing fraud, it is under a duty to refuse presentation. Otherwise, it should not. In turn, the establishment of clear evidence by the English courts is somewhat hard to achieve, consequently, such condition criticized often. Further, if the beneficiary himself commits the fraud, or has knowledge of the fraud, then the fraud exception rule will apply.1 This raises the question of whether the fraud exception should also bite where the fraud is committed by a third party but without the beneficiary,Äôs knowledge. From these facts, this chapter will try to analysis the status of the bank,Äôs knowledge and the hardship related to the clear evidence requirement in conjunction with the third-party fraud.

The question of what constitutes ‘fraud in the transaction’ with respect to international letters of credit varies considerably among jurisdictions. In proving allegations of fraud, it is crucial for the practitioner to know the relevant jurisdiction’s case law, especially if wider defences such as inducement, unconscionable conduct or bad faith must be invoked. In this book, the author argues that, whereas ‘fraud in the documents’ is generally sufficient in cases involving commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit demand a wider fraud exception. The central issue – how wide that fraud exception should be – is what this book explores in depth.This author compares and critically examines the application of the fraud exception in four major trade jurisdictions – the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. With an overall focus on how each jurisdiction’s fraud tests treat the autonomy of standby letters of credit, she builds her arguments on such relevant sources and concepts as the following: when it can be shown that the beneficiary has ‘no bona fide belief’ in the validity of its claim demand guarantees; international initiatives (ICC Rules and the UN Convention on Independent Guarantee and Standby Letters of Credit); the Sztejn Rule; parameters of the ‘fraud in the transaction’ defence ‘materiality’ standard; prerequisites for injunctive relief; arguing ‘fraud in the formation of the contract’; performance bond cases; applying the ‘breach of good faith’ defence; ‘negative stipulation’ in the underlying contract; and equitable versus statutory/broader notion of unconscionability. The presentation includes detailed summaries and analyses of leading cases in all four jurisdictions. Lawyers and corporate counsel responsible for arguing claims or defences in letter of credit transactions will welcome the way the author's research and insight define the range of options in each case they handle. Academics also will appreciate the systematic way the book frames a complex area of international trade law.

Standby and Commercial Letters of Credit, Third Edition alerts you to current developments and discusses the recent UCP600, former UCP500, ISP98, UCC Article 5, and current trade practices and problems. The authors review letter of credit law and practices, helping to resolve concerns of applicants, beneficiaries, and issuers. This essential resource includes: Sample forms and clauses, procedures and checklists Current court cases and extensive Table of Cases What can happen to letters of credit in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings Fraud and injunction nightmares Cross-reference table UCP600 and UCP500 Strategies for bank reimbursement agreements Standby and Commercial Letters of Credit, Third Edition gives you immediate guidance when you need it most. And it supplies real-world letters of credit situations, with analyses of what was done right and wrong.