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INSIGHT

How Can a Foreign Company Recover Money from a Chinese Supplier?

Recovery usually begins with a disciplined review of the contract, payment trail, delivery evidence, dispute clause and the supplier’s assets.

By Zongjing JIANG · Updated 21 September 2026

Short Answer

Recovery usually begins with a disciplined review of the contract, payment trail, delivery evidence, dispute clause and the supplier’s assets.

Key Issues

  • Confirm the contract and parties
  • Preserve payment, delivery and communication evidence
  • Analyse governing law and dispute provisions
  • Assess assets and enforceability
  • Coordinate negotiation, proceedings and enforcement

Practical Considerations

Documents, forum, deadlines and assets should be reviewed together. A legally available procedure may still be commercially ineffective if evidence is incomplete or assets cannot be identified.

Example / Scenario

A cross-border sale may involve different contracting and payment entities and communications through several channels. Establishing the parties and evidence trail is an early priority.

What to Do Next

  • Contracts and orders
  • Payment and remittance records
  • Invoices, transport, inspection and delivery documents
  • Emails and messages
  • Counterparty and known asset information
Zongjing JIANG

AUTHOR

Zongjing JIANG

Senior Partner, Beijing Hylands (Zhengzhou) Law Firm

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