Politics · China · 14 hrs ago
Guangdong court publishes first national guide to international treaty use
On October 16, Guangdong’s High People’s Court published a national first: a white paper on using international treaties and practices in commercial and maritime cases.
It reviews cases handled by Guangdong courts from 2016 to 2025, a period in which they completed 4,574 cases involving international rules.
Of those, 278 applied treaties setting common legal rules, 48 applied international practices, and 4,248 involved treaties on judicial assistance.
The cases covered about 30 areas, including sales contracts, air transport, shipping services and ship collisions.
The court says it considers whether a treaty applies and respects parties’ choices about applying or excluding some treaties.
The guidance also addresses newer issues such as electronic service of legal documents and online arbitration.
The court released 10 example cases with the white paper to help align rulings and give businesses operating overseas clearer guidance.
Guangdong’s High People’s Court published the country’s first white paper on applying international treaties and practices in foreign-related commercial and maritime cases.
The white paper covers court cases from 2016 to 2025 and was released with 10 illustrative cases.
Guangdong courts concluded 4,574 cases applying international treaties or practices during that period.
The cases included disputes involving sales contracts, air transport, shipping agencies and ship collisions.
The court said the white paper aims to review judicial practice, promote consistent rulings and guide companies doing business overseas.
- Who
- Guangdong’s High People’s Court published the white paper.
- What
- It is the country’s first white paper on applying international treaties and practices in foreign-related commercial and maritime cases, and was released with 10 illustrative cases.
- When
- October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Guangdong, China.
- Why
- To review court practice, promote consistent rulings and provide guidance for companies doing business overseas.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Guangdong courts concluded 4,574 cases applying international treaties or practices.
Guangdong’s High People’s Court published the white paper and 10 illustrative cases.
- Cases concluded
- 4,574 from 2016 to 2025
- Uniform substantive law treaties
- Applied in 278 cases
- International practices
- Applied in 48 cases
- Judicial assistance treaties
- Applied in 4,248 cases
- Illustrative cases
- 10 released with the white paper
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What people are saying
The white paper provides practical reference guidance for enterprises involved in foreign-related business