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Electronic trade documents: what is a reliable computer system? and problems in contracting for a “reliable system”

3 June 2024 / Author(s): Paul Marshall
Issue: June 2024 / Categories: Feature

The International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) has recently published an “Addendum” to its Guide to Digital Negotiable Instruments in connection with the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023. The ITFA Addendum recommends that members might adopt a contractual term: The [Issuer/Drawer/Obligor] and the [Holder] agree for the benefit of themselves and any subsequent [Holder] of this [… ] that the [relevant system] constitutes a ‘reliable system’ for the purposes of the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 and they agree not to challenge it being a reliable system for the purposes of the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023”.1 This article discusses whether that term provides a solution to the problem that it purports to address, and some legal issues that may arise.

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