最高人民法院出台指导意见，聚焦受疫情影响较大的运输合同、涉外商事海事案件法律适用问题，依照法律和司法解释的规定提出解决方案，营造法治化营商环境。

指导意见明确了受疫情影响当事人延期提交身份证明材料与授权委托手续、申请延长举证期限、域外公文书证无法办理公证等问题。

针对受疫情影响较大的运输合同、涉外商事与海事海商案件，指导意见对当事人权利义务作出了调整和平衡。

承运人因疫情或者疫情防控导致迟延交付，并已及时通知托运人，承运人主张免除相应责任的，人民法院依法予以支持。

指导意见共19条，为最高人民法院关于依法妥善审理涉新冠肺炎疫情民事案件若干问题的指导意见第三部分。

China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) has issued a set of new guidelines to deal with foreign-related commercial and maritime cases stemming from or affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Under the fresh guidelines, parties facing difficulties due to the epidemic may apply for an extension of the time limit for submitting foreign-related certificates and evidence or filing an appeal.

The guidelines stipulated that the carrier or the shipper may request the cancellation of the contract prior to the commencement of the voyage, if the contract could not be performed due to the epidemic.

In terms of general carriage contract disputes, the SPC also stated that if the carrier informs the shipper in a timely manner, the carrier's exemption of liability for delay in delivery caused by the epidemic or containment measures shall be guaranteed.

The 19-article document is the third batch of guidelines issued by the SPC regarding civil disputes related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Notes 注释

[1] commencement: 开始，开端

[2] stem from: 出于，基于

[3] liability: 责任，义务