CICC announces revised Arbitration Law took effect 1 March 2026
The China International Commercial Court (CICC) has announced that China’s newly revised Arbitration Law, which replaces the 1995 Arbitration Law, took effect on 1 March 2026. The amendment expands provisions on international arbitration and introduces a ‘place of arbitration’ system, under which the place of arbitration determines the applicable procedural law and the court with jurisdiction unless the parties agree otherwise. In certain foreign-related maritime disputes and disputes involving enterprises in designated free trade zones, parties may choose to establish ad hoc arbitral tribunals composed of qualified individuals, subject to filing requirements. The revised law clarifies that Chinese arbitration institutions and tribunals may handle international investment arbitration cases in accordance with relevant treaties and aligns provisions on the recognition and enforcement of awards with the Civil Procedure Law. It also revises governance requirements for arbitration institutions, enhances arbitrator qualification and disclosure obligations and formally recognises online arbitration. Procedural changes include expanded mechanisms for confirming the existence of arbitration agreements and a reduction in the time limit for applying to set aside an award from six months to three months, while the law further provides for judicial support for preservation measures prior to the commencement of arbitration and permits tribunals to request assistance in evidence collection.