Chinese Supplier Disputes
If a Chinese supplier has failed to deliver, delivered goods that do not match what was agreed, refused a refund, or is selling your product to other buyers, the practical question is what can be done — and on what evidence. This page sets out the situations we handle, what you should prepare, and how a matter usually proceeds.
Common Situations
- A deposit or full payment has been made, but the supplier has not delivered or has stopped responding.
- Goods arrived but do not match the sample, purchase order, or agreed specifications.
- The supplier refuses to refund a deposit, or claims costs that were never agreed.
- The supplier is manufacturing or selling your product to other buyers.
- Tooling, molds, or design files are being withheld after the relationship broke down.
- The written contract is thin, or exists mainly in emails, quotations, and WeChat messages.
What We Do
- Review the purchase order, contract, payment records, and correspondence to establish what was actually agreed.
- Identify the correct contracting and manufacturing entity and its registration information in China.
- Assess the realistic routes: negotiated settlement, a formal demand letter, litigation, or arbitration under an arbitration clause.
- Where appropriate, consider property preservation to reduce the risk of assets being moved during proceedings.
- Pursue proceedings and advise on the practical options for enforcing a judgment or arbitral award in China.
What to Prepare
- The contract, purchase orders, quotations, and any signed amendments.
- Payment records, bank receipts, and invoices.
- Inspection reports, photographs, and samples where quality is disputed.
- Email, WeChat, and other correspondence showing what was agreed and what went wrong.
- The supplier's Chinese company name, and any business licence or registration details you hold.
How Engagement Works
- 1
Initial inquiry
You send a short summary of the dispute and the key documents you hold. We confirm whether the matter falls within our practice.
- 2
Conflict check and engagement
We check for conflicts of interest, then confirm the scope of work and the fee arrangement in writing before substantive work begins.
- 3
Case assessment
We review the contract, payments, and correspondence, identify the correct Chinese entity, and set out the available routes with their limits.
- 4
Action
Depending on the assessment and your instructions: negotiation, a formal demand letter, litigation, or arbitration under the contractual clause.
- 5
Reporting and next steps
You receive updates at agreed milestones, including the practical options for recovery or enforcement where a decision is obtained.
How Fees Are Determined
- Professional fees are agreed in writing before substantive work begins.
- Depending on the matter, we may quote a fixed fee for defined work, an hourly rate, or staged fees for litigation and arbitration.
- Third-party costs — court fees, arbitration fees, preservation fees, translation, notarization, and travel — are separate from professional fees and are confirmed with you in advance.
- Where a claim is assessed as not commercially viable, we will say so before you commit to litigation.
Clients outside China can instruct and follow a supplier dispute remotely. Documents used in Chinese proceedings, including a power of attorney, may require notarization or legalization formalities before filing.
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Tell Us What Happened
A short summary of the facts and the documents you hold is enough to start. We will explain the realistic options before you commit to any step.
Contact Michael Ma