Question 1

How do I get my money back from a Chinese supplier?

Accepted Answer

Recovery depends on three factors: whether you have a written contract, whether you can identify the supplier's Chinese legal entity name (not trade name), and whether you've preserved evidence like WeChat or email records. Before sending any demand letter, consider filing an asset preservation application with a Chinese court — funds may be moved quickly once the supplier is alerted. The statute of limitations is 3 years under PRC Civil Code Art. 188.

Question 2

Is my CIETAC arbitration clause valid?

Accepted Answer

A valid CIETAC clause must clearly name the arbitration institution, specify the seat of arbitration, and avoid ambiguity caused by the separation of CIETAC's former sub-commissions — Shenzhen renamed itself SCIA in October 2012, and Shanghai renamed itself SHIAC in April 2013. Clauses designating 'CIETAC Shanghai Sub-Commission' or 'CIETAC South China Sub-Commission' entered into before the name changes now generally fall under SHIAC or SCIA jurisdiction (per SPC Reply dated 15 July 2015). The language of proceedings should be explicitly stated; the CIETAC Rules default to Chinese.

Question 3

Which language version prevails if my contract is bilingual?

Accepted Answer

Chinese law generally respects party autonomy — parties can agree which language prevails. However, the prevailing language clause must appear consistently in both versions. If the Chinese version says Chinese controls while the English version says English controls, or if both versions are silent on this, Chinese courts and arbitration tribunals will apply the Chinese version. Under PRC Civil Code Art. 466, courts interpret contracts based on the words used, related clauses, contract purpose, trade practices, and good faith. If you want English to prevail, ensure the Chinese version explicitly says so.

Question 4

Can a Chinese court reduce my contract's liquidated damages?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under PRC Civil Code Art. 585, courts and arbitration tribunals may, upon a party's request, reduce liquidated damages that 'excessively exceed' actual losses. Under Article 65 of the 2023 Judicial Interpretation on the Contract Chapter, liquidated damages exceeding the actual losses by more than 30% are generally deemed 'excessively exceeding.' Adjustment is not automatic — the party seeking reduction bears the burden of proof, and courts weigh contract performance, degree of fault, and expected benefits.

Question 5

What is an NNN agreement and why does my China supplier contract need one?

Accepted Answer

An NNN (Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, Non-Circumvention) agreement is specifically drafted under Chinese law to protect foreign buyers' designs, specifications, and customer relationships from being used against them by Chinese suppliers. Standard NDAs drafted under foreign law are often unenforceable in Chinese courts. An effective NNN should be in Chinese, governed by Chinese law, specify exclusive jurisdiction of a Chinese court, and include liquidated damages for breach.

Question 6

How long does CIETAC arbitration take?

Accepted Answer

Under the CIETAC 2024 Rules, the tribunal must render an award within 6 months after its constitution (standard procedure, Art. 48) or within 3 months under the Summary Procedure (for disputes under RMB 5 million, Art. 62). These limits may be extended by CIETAC. In practice, standard cases typically take 9-15 months from filing to award, including pre-tribunal-formation time. Enforcement in China generally adds another 3-6 months; enforcement abroad via the New York Convention varies by country.

Question 7

Do I need to set up a WFOE to do business in China?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Alternatives include selling through distributors, setting up a representative office (which cannot directly engage in profit-making activities), or cross-border e-commerce. A WFOE is needed when you require direct sales, hiring employees in China, or full operational control. The 2024 Foreign Investment Negative List (effective November 1, 2024) has 29 restricted items and has removed all remaining restrictions on manufacturing. Restrictions remain mainly in telecommunications, education, healthcare, finance, and cultural sectors.

Question 8

What evidence is admissible in Chinese courts from foreign sources?

Accepted Answer

Under Chinese law, not all foreign-sourced evidence requires authentication — only status-related evidence (such as corporate registration certificates, powers of attorney) generally must be authenticated. Since the Hague Apostille Convention took effect for China on November 7, 2023, documents from member states only need to be notarized in the country of origin and then apostilled, replacing the previous consular legalization process. WeChat and email records are admissible as electronic evidence under PRC Civil Procedure Law; their evidentiary weight is strengthened by notary-verified preservation or blockchain/third-party forensic certification.

Dimension	Standard NDA	NNN Agreement
Governing law	Usually US / UK / HK law — PRC courts may refuse to apply.	PRC law, drafted bilingual. Chinese version controls.
Jurisdiction	Foreign court. Virtually unenforceable against a PRC supplier.	Chinese court where supplier is located. Fast enforcement.
Scope	Only "no disclosure." Silent on supplier using your IP themselves.	Covers disclosure + use + circumvention — all three risks.
Damages	Must prove actual loss — extremely hard cross-border.	Liquidated damages pre-agreed. Court enforces the number.

The NNN Agreement — the contract foreign buyers in China actually need.

What NNN actually covers

Non-disclosure

Non-use

Non-circumvention

A standard NDA won't protect you in China

Enforceable in PRC courts

Liquidated damages built-in

Covers the "non-use" gap

Why the difference matters in dispute

From intake to signed NNN — five business days

Intake

Draft

Review

Sign

Frequently asked questions

Protect your design before you ship the spec sheet.