Press Release: New rules provide confidence for cross-border trade

The Rome I Regulation, which will replace the 1980 Rome Convention, will provide clarity over which law applies if a dispute arises over a contract made between people or businesses from different countries. In July 2008, following consultation with UK stakeholders and the government's own analysis of the regulation, the UK decided to participate in the regulation. The European Commission adopted a decision to extend the application of the Rome I Regulation to the UK on 22 December 2008. The regulation, which will be binding across the UK, including Gibraltar, will come into force on 17 December 2009.