Finding a Chinese lawyer to secure importing goods from China

It’s no doubt that China is a Fairland of business opportunities to supply the various prices of goods to cater different requirements from all around the world. However, you can’t just be attracted by exotic products and favorable prices. Before deciding to make a deal with your Chinese partner, you might consider engaging a bilingual lawyer to proceed duediligence (credit investigation) work for your company especially if the transaction value is big and if you plan for a long-term business relationship with your Chinese partner.

As often, most of businessmen access information of goods they need through internet platforms such as Alibaba and Made in China websites or even independent websites searched through Google. We could not decline that majority of the suppliers are with integrity and genuine providers but your should consider entrusting a lawyer to investigate and negotiate with them under the different culture, language and legal system. You won’t regret after knowing the following information and tips:

Information A: Do not reasonably think English is very popular in China as in India, Thailand and Singapore. Your suppliers or agents would display their products on the internet for convenience and just put the translation of their company name and contact person’s name in English. However, the information in their official registration paper of their company does not contain English words as it isn’t allowed. In different levels, it is very important to indicate their capabilities and limited product areas in the license issued by the Chinese government from the department of Commerce and Industry. So, verifying their background and identity is one step to safeguard your transaction. The Chinese language is famous as it’s hard to study. Even if you stay in the country for along time, you can only speak Chinese a little but definitely unable to read Chinese characters unless you are a language genius. As for the contact person who’s exchanging emails with you is definitely not Peter or Judie in their ID un less he is not a Chinese citizen.

*The useful tip provided to you is – yous hould ask a copy of their company license and legal person’s ID no matter you can recognize it or not. It’s because when you have disputes with them, ask our lawyer to relieve your trouble and we can easily find your disputed target.   

Information B: Do not trust and depend on your Chinese friends who accompany you to visit and pick suitable suppliers.Although your friend can convey your requirements to suppliers, he doesn’t have legal point standards to suggest and maximize your benefits or constrain the unfaithful behavior of suppliers. Even in some extreme cases, your friend and supplier conspire to cheat you. They would just arrange you to visit some famous or large-scale manufacturer which is not your contacted party to blind your eyes.

*Useful tip for this is – when you decide to personally visit China to verify your counterpart, you might better have an English-speaking lawyer to accompany you.

Information C: Do not think your trusted stable partner from China won’t deserve our due diligence to them. Some of your so called stable supplier which you keep business relationship with for several years might be close to bankruptcy due to strong competition so you must also keep caution of the risk. There even some scammers who always keep good promises to fulfill their obligations under small orders, but once theyre ceived constructive trust and confidence from your side and then they get a big order and received the money as payment, they will disappear forever - no email replies, invalidated contact phone and mobile numbers.

*Tip for this: Engaging an experienced lawyer to sign the Sale of Contract is your basic safety line to have your business and benefits safe.