"Force majeure" in any given situation is controlled by the law governing the contract, rather than general concepts of "force majeure". The law of the contract often specified by a choice of law clause in the agreement, and if not is decided by a statute or principles of general law which apply to the contract. The first step to assess whether – and how – "force majeure" applies to any particular contract is to ascertain the law of the country which governs the contract.