Scope: International business-to-business sales; China suppliers
The pre-shipment report looked acceptable. Weeks later, customers report the same failure across several units. The supplier says inspection was final and the goods were accepted. Your commercial team insists the problem could not have been detected earlier.
A China supplier defective goods claim depends on more than the existence of a defect. The contract, applicable law, inspection process and notice history all matter.
Identify the promised standard
Compare the contract, approved samples, drawings and testing requirements. Determine whether the complaint concerns an agreed specification, safety requirement, packaging problem or use outside the intended application.
Preserve batch references and evidence linking the affected items to the supplier. Keep representative goods and test records where lawful and practical. Avoid destroying the only evidence during a hurried disposal or replacement exercise.
Read the inspection clause closely
What did the inspection cover? Who conducted it? Did the agreement address latent defects or later claims? An inspection report may answer some factual questions while leaving others open. Its legal effect requires review of the terms and governing law.
The CISG can apply to qualifying international goods sales and addresses conformity, examination and notice. Applicability, exclusions and any relevant reservations should be checked rather than assumed. UNCITRAL CISG overview.
Notify with useful detail
Ask counsel promptly about applicable notice requirements. Record the affected goods, observed defects, discovery date and supporting evidence. General frustration such as “your products are bad” is less useful than a documented explanation of the problem.
Coordinate technical investigation with legal correspondence. Premature claims about the cause can undermine later analysis, while delay can create separate difficulties.
Compare practical remedies
Repair, replacement, price adjustment or other remedies require legal and commercial assessment. Account for freight, testing, customer exposure and mitigation. Keep safety and regulatory reporting questions on a separate workstream if the facts warrant it.
Facing a post-delivery quality dispute? Contact Jinyuan Law Firm with the contract, inspection report, batch information and complaint timeline. Ask for an assessment of notice requirements, evidence gaps and a proportionate resolution strategy.
General information only. Advice depends on the facts and applicable jurisdiction. Contact does not by itself create a lawyer-client relationship. Local-law advice may be needed outside mainland China.
