American Exceptionalism in Consumer Arbitration

Authors

Amy J. Schmitz, University of Missouri School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

“American exceptionalism” has been used to reference the United States’ outlier policies in various contexts, including its love for litigation. Despite Americans’ reverence for their “day in court,” their zest for contractual freedom and efficiency has prevailed to result in U.S. courts’ strict enforcement of arbitration provisions in both business-to-business (“B2B”) and business-to-consumer (“B2C”) contracts. This is exceptional because although most of the world joins the United States in generally enforcing B2B arbitration under the New York Convention, many other countries refuse or strictly limit arbitration enforcement in B2C relationships due to concerns regarding power imbalances and public enforcement of consumer protections. The resulting clash in arbitration policy has left consumers in cross-border cases uncertain whether they must abide by arbitration clauses in an increasingly global marketplace.

Recommended Citation

Amy J. Schmitz, American Exceptionalism in Consumer Arbitration, 10 Loy. U. Chi. Int'l L. Rev. 81 (2012)