Opening the Red Door to Chinese Arbitrations: An Empirical Analysis of CIETAC Cases (1990-2000)

Authors

Pat K. Chew, University of Pittsburgh School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

This article reveals evidence-based details of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) arbitral proceedings (1990-2000), allowing unprecedented insights into Chinese international business arbitration. It begins by confirming the prominence of Chinese foreign trade and foreign investment in the global economy and CIETAC’s critical role in securing that prominence. Among other results, the empirical study of CIETAC awards finds: (i) the parties were of diverse nationalities, most commonly with disputes between a Chinese party and a foreign party; and (ii) the majority of cases were sales and trade disputes, although a sizable number were investment/joint venture disputes. Regarding the arbitrators’ decisions, (iii) claimants received either a full win or full loss 30% of the time, with arbitrators much more likely to grant a compromise award; and (vi) Chinese claimants were significantly better off than foreign claimants. A subsequent study further explores the effect of the parties’ nationality on award outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Pat K. Chew, Opening the Red Door to Chinese Arbitrations: An Empirical Analysis of CIETAC Cases (1990-2000), 22 Harvard Negotiation Law Review 241 (2017).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.pitt.edu/fac_articles/31