Series: China Supply Chain Disputes
Your Chinese Supplier Shipped Defective Goods — Now What?
A practical guide for foreign buyers dealing with defective goods from Chinese suppliers. Steps to take immediately, from preserving evidence to arbitration.
That Contract Clause You Ignored Could Cost You Everything
Five commonly overlooked clauses in Chinese supply contracts and why they decide the outcome of cross-border disputes. Arbitration, inspection periods, governing law, penalties, IP protection.
Your Chinese supplier went silent after you paid the deposit. Now what?
Paid a deposit to a Chinese factory and now they won't respond? A practical guide to getting your money back, from demand letters to government complaints.
Arbitration in China Is Less Scary Than You Think (and Probably Cheaper Too)
A practitioner's breakdown of China arbitration for foreign buyers: real enforcement rates, actual costs, CIETAC procedures, and the institutional safeguards most people don't know exist.
How to Prepare Evidence That Actually Holds Up in Chinese Arbitration
From inspection deadlines to WeChat records, from third-party testing to adverse inferences: evidence preparation in supply chain arbitration requires more discipline than most buyers realize.
Your Supplier Copied Your Design and Is Selling It to Your Competitor
When your Chinese OEM factory uses your CAD files to produce for someone else — NNN agreements, design patents, mold ownership, and what actually works to protect your IP.
Tariffs Jumped 25% Mid-Order — Who Bears the Loss?
Your purchase order was priced before the tariff hike landed. Who pays the new bill at customs — and can anyone get out of the contract? Incoterms, force majeure, and the clause that prevents the next fight.
Before You Pay a Chinese Supplier, Check These 10 Things
Before sending a deposit to a Chinese supplier, confirm the legal entity, company chop, bank account, contract, arbitration clause, inspection terms, and compliance screening. Many sourcing disputes start with one skipped check.
When a China Demand Letter Works — And When It Backfires
A demand letter to a Chinese supplier can unlock settlement, or it can destroy leverage. Here is how to decide whether to send one, what it should say, and what should happen next.
Can You Sue a Chinese Supplier from Overseas? Cost, Evidence, Arbitration and Enforcement
Foreign buyers can sue or arbitrate against Chinese suppliers, but the real question is whether the claim can reach the right entity, prove the contract and payment trail, preserve assets, and turn the result into recovery.
Series: China Legal Glossary
What Is Asset Preservation in China?
Asset preservation in China can freeze or secure a supplier's assets before or during litigation or arbitration. Here is what foreign buyers need to know before sending a demand letter or filing a claim.
What Is the HK-Mainland Interim Measures Arrangement?
The Hong Kong-Mainland Interim Measures Arrangement lets parties in eligible Hong Kong arbitrations ask Mainland Chinese courts for preservation measures. Here is why it matters in China-related disputes.
What Is CIETAC?
CIETAC is one of China's leading arbitration institutions. This glossary guide explains when CIETAC matters, how a CIETAC clause works, and why foreign buyers should care.
What Is HKIAC?
HKIAC is a leading Hong Kong arbitration institution often used in China-related contracts. This guide explains when HKIAC helps, what the clause should say, and why Mainland interim measures matter.
What Is an NNN Agreement in China?
A China NNN agreement protects against disclosure, use, and circumvention before you share designs, samples, molds, pricing, or customer information with a Chinese supplier.
What Is a China Company Chop?
A China company chop is the official company seal used to bind contracts and company documents. Foreign buyers should check the chop before signing or paying a supplier.
What Is WeChat Evidence in China Court?
WeChat messages can be evidence in China, but screenshots are often not enough. Learn how foreign buyers should preserve chat records for disputes, arbitration, and court use.
What Is a China Social Credit Code?
A China Unified Social Credit Code is the 18-character identifier on a Chinese business license. Foreign buyers can use it to verify the real supplier before signing or paying.
What Are Liquidated Damages in China?
Liquidated damages in China are agreed damages for breach of contract, but courts and tribunals can adjust them. Learn how to draft a clause that creates real pressure.
Series: Employment Disputes for Foreigners in China
Your Employer Just Fired You in China — What Are Your Rights?
Wrongful termination in China explained for foreign employees: when you can claim N, N+1 or 2N compensation, how severance is calculated, and what to do about work permits and labor arbitration.
Your Company Hasn't Paid You in Months — Can Foreigners File Labor Arbitration in China?
A complete guide for foreigners owed unpaid wages in China. Learn how to file labor arbitration, what evidence you need, key deadlines, and how to recover your salary even after leaving China.
That Employment Contract Is Full of Traps — What Every Foreigner Should Check Before Signing
The offer letter from HQ is not your contract. Probation periods that exceed the legal cap, penalty clauses that are void, non-competes that follow you for two years — what to check before you sign an employment contract in China.
Do Foreigners in China Need Social Insurance? Participation, Benefits, Refunds, and Opt-Out Risks
Foreign employees lawfully working in China generally fall within the employee social insurance system. This guide explains the five schemes, contribution bases, treaty exemptions, departure account handling, and why social insurance opt-outs are risky.