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Haiyu International

China Dispute Help

Facing a dispute involving a Chinese supplier, shipment, freight forwarder, payment or Chinese government authority?

We help international businesses and buyers understand and respond to disputes arising in China. From supplier and logistics disputes to detained goods and regulatory investigations, we provide China-side case assessment, document review and local legal coordination.

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Urgent China Dispute?

Goods detained? Supplier disappeared? Shipment blocked? Payment dispute? Government investigation?

Include the notice and any known deadline. Submission alone does not establish a lawyer–client relationship.

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What happened?

Goods DetainedSupplier DisputePayment LostCargo HeldGovernment InvestigationContract Dispute

China-side dispute services

Goods Seized or Detained in China

Goods detained by Customs, Tobacco Monopoly authorities, market regulators or other Chinese enforcement agencies.

First identify whether an authority has detained the goods or a freight forwarder is withholding release. Obtain the written notice, inventory and dates. A commercial payment disagreement and an official detention require different document reviews. For a forwarder’s hold, also review the transport contract and disputed charges.

Documents to prepare: Enforcement notice, inventory, manufacturer details, licence records and shipment documents.

Submit this type of disputeVape products seized in China: document guide

Chinese Supplier Disputes

Disputes involving deposits, defective goods, non-delivery, incorrect products, supplier refusal to refund or factory non-performance.

Non-delivery, refunds and deposit recovery

If a Chinese supplier failed to deliver, refuses a refund or stopped responding, preserve the agreed delivery date, payment beneficiary details and the full message history. Identify the contracting company before deciding whom to approach. A request for more money or a changed price after payment should be compared with the original order and any agreed changes.

Defective goods or goods that do not match specifications

Keep the approved sample, specifications, inspection reports, dated photographs and records of when defects were reported. Record storage and inspection costs. Possible remedies depend on the applicable law, contract terms, evidence and seriousness of the defect; a refund is not automatic.

After an Alibaba dispute fails

Save the Trade Assurance order, platform decision and evidence already submitted. A platform complaint and a claim against the contracting supplier are different routes. Counsel can review the dispute clause, supplier identity and available documents before discussing a demand letter, negotiation or proceedings in China.

Supplier verification and contract enforcement

Compare the supplier’s Chinese registered name, business licence, contract and bank beneficiary. Registration alone does not prove financial strength or ability to repay. Review any confidentiality or NNN agreement separately from the purchase contract. Litigation or arbitration options require a case-specific review, not a promised recovery.

Discuss a supplier contract disputeRead illustrative supplier and payment scenarios

General information, not legal advice. Reference: PRC Civil Code, contract liability provisions.

Documents to prepare: Contract, purchase order, specifications, payment records and supplier correspondence.

Submit this type of dispute

Freight & Logistics Disputes

Cargo held by freight forwarders, warehouse disputes, unauthorized release, lost cargo and unexpected logistics charges.

Documents to prepare: Transport contract, bill of lading, warehouse receipt, invoices and release instructions.

Submit this type of dispute

Payment & Commercial Fraud

Payments made to Chinese companies, suspected supplier fraud, company identity concerns or failure to deliver after payment.

Documents to prepare: Payment beneficiary details, account records, company registration details and order communications.

Submit this type of dispute

Regulatory & Administrative Cases

China-side assistance involving Customs, Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, Market Regulation Administration and other administrative authorities.

Documents to prepare: All notices and decisions, delivery dates, product information and regulatory records.

Submit this type of dispute

How We Handle a China Dispute

  1. STEP 01

    Submit the Case

    Client submits basic facts, documents and information concerning the Chinese counterparty, shipment or authority.

  2. STEP 02

    China-Side Assessment

    We identify the parties, legal issue, regulatory authority, available documents and possible China-side routes.

  3. STEP 03

    Document & Evidence Review

    Contracts, invoices, payment records, shipping documents, government notices and correspondence are reviewed.

  4. STEP 04

    Legal Route & Local Coordination

    Depending on the matter, we may coordinate communication, negotiation, regulatory response, local counsel, litigation or arbitration support.

  5. STEP 05

    Action Plan

    The client receives a clear next-step plan, expected scope of work and fee structure before further engagement.

No recovery or legal outcome is guaranteed.

Debt recovery and the next legal step

For an unpaid invoice or disputed repayment, prepare the contract, invoices, delivery or acceptance records and acknowledgements of the balance. A review should distinguish the amount claimed from the evidence supporting it and the practical prospects of enforcement. No repayment or enforcement result is guaranteed.

Contract review and demand correspondence · Proceedings and litigation support · Approved public matters

Recent China Dispute Activity

Illustrative scenarios only — not matters handled by the firm.

Cargo Held

Cargo Held After Freight Was Paid to an Intermediary: an illustrative scenario

Country / Region:
International → Cross-border; to be assessed from the transport documents, contracts and cargo location
Industry:
International trade and shipping
Amount Range:
Not specified

An anonymized strategy memo describes an overseas importer who arranged a shipment of commercial equipment through a freight intermediary and says the freight was paid to that intermediary. After arrival, the carrier reportedly withheld the goods, citing unpaid freight and other debt issues involving the intermediary. The importer has shipping documents and a payment receipt and is considering direct payment to secure release. The memo does not establish a court filing, final outcome or representation by Haiyu.

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Illustrative Scenario

Practical Guide

Replacing a Chinese Supplier: Documenting the Extra Cost Without Overstating the Claim

Country / Region:
International → Mainland China; subject to the governing law, any applicable treaty and the agreed dispute forum
Industry:
Cross-border trade and sourcing
Amount Range:
Not specified; fictional example

Short answer: keep a decision record as well as the replacement invoice. A useful claim file explains why replacement was needed, whether the new purchase genuinely replaces the affected order, and which additional costs were caused by the supplier's breach. Paying another factory does not automatically make the entire second invoice recoverable. FICTIONAL EXAMPLE — NOT A REAL CLIENT MATTER An overseas buyer's Chinese supplier misses an agreed delivery milestone. To meet a customer deadline, the buyer considers ordering from another factory at a higher price and using air freight. The new factory also offers an upgraded specification. This invented example illustrates how to organise evidence. It is not a HAIYU client matter, reported decision or account of services performed, and it predicts no outcome.

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Illustrative Scenario

Practical Guide

A Chinese Supplier Offers Instalments: When Should You Release the Original Claim?

Country / Region:
International → Mainland China; subject to the governing law and agreed dispute forum
Industry:
Cross-border trade and sourcing
Amount Range:
Not specified; fictional example

Short answer: a signature and receipt of the promised money are different events. Before signing an instalment settlement, identify exactly when any release takes effect, what survives a missed payment, and how each receipt reduces the balance. Do not assume the original claim automatically returns if the new plan fails. FICTIONAL EXAMPLE — NOT A REAL CLIENT MATTER An overseas buyer and a Chinese supplier agree that a refund is due. The supplier proposes several instalments and asks the buyer to sign a document saying that all disputes are fully and finally settled immediately. The first payment has not arrived. This invented scenario illustrates a drafting decision, not a transaction, court ruling or service performed by HAIYU. No result is predicted.

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Illustrative Scenario

All illustrative scenarios and document guides
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