Germany: Suspending Contractual Performance In Response To The Coronavirus Outbreak – White & Case

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus has quickly developed from a local to a global threat with tragic human losses that overshadow contemplations of its economic impact. However, the disease is likely to have a profound impact on business and underlying contractual relationships. It has been highlighted frequently that scenarios like the one we are currently witnessing bring the concept of force majeure into play ( [see here](/redirection.asp?article_id=1095660&company_id=3455&redirectaddress=https://www.whitecase.com/publications/alert/war-clauses-friend-not-foe-force-majeure) ). As a vital mechanism to excuse a party’s non-performance or justify termination of a contract, the question is: does the coronavirus constitute force majeure? Force majeure Force majeure can be (or…