Explanatory note

This Order specifies (in Schedule 1) States which are parties to the 1927 Geneva Convention on the Execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“the Geneva Convention ”), and which have satisfied Her Majesty that they have made reciprocal provisions. Arbitral awards made in such States are enforceable in the United Kingdom under Part II of the Arbitration Act 1950 , except, where the State in question is also a New York Convention State, in so far as the award is enforceable under the Arbitration Act 1975.

The Order also specifies (in Schedule 2) States which are parties to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“the New York Convention”). Arbitral awards made in such States are enforceable in the United Kingdom under the Arbitration Act 1975.

The Order replaces the Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Order 1978 and the Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Order 1979, which are revoked. The two Schedules have been revised to take account of the accession of certain States to the two Conventions and to take account of the independence of certain States which were formerly territories for whose international relations another State was responsible.

The States now added as being parties to the Geneva Convention are: Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Bangladesh; Belize; Dominica; Guyana; Malta; Saint Christopher and Nevis; St. Lucia; Western Samoa and Zambia. In respect of the New York Convention the additional States are: Belize; Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic; Colombia; Djibouti; Guatemala; Haiti; Jordan; Luxembourg; New Zealand; San Marino; Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic; Uruguay; and Yugoslavia.