新修订仲裁法颁布，允许境外仲裁机构在海南自由贸易港等区域设立业务机构

Core Viewpoint - The newly revised Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China, effective from March 1, 2026, significantly expands the scope of foreign-related arbitration and supports the internationalization of arbitration institutions, marking a major reform since the 1994 Arbitration Law [1][4]. Summary by Sections Arbitration Law Revision - The revised Arbitration Law includes 96 articles, an increase of 16 articles compared to the previous version, and aims to enhance the credibility and international competitiveness of China's arbitration system [4][6]. - The law supports the establishment of business institutions by Chinese arbitration organizations abroad and allows foreign arbitration institutions to set up in designated free trade zones [1][4]. Scope and Impact - The new law broadens the range of foreign-related arbitration cases, covering economic trade, transportation, maritime disputes, and other foreign-related issues, which is a significant expansion from the 1994 law [1][6]. - Data shows that in the past five years, Chinese arbitration institutions handled approximately 16,000 foreign-related arbitration cases with a total amount of about 730 billion yuan, indicating China's growing role as a preferred destination for international commercial arbitration [1][3]. Institutional Development - As of August 2025, there are 285 legally established arbitration committees in China, which have processed over 5 million arbitration cases involving more than 90 trillion yuan, serving various sectors including finance, e-commerce, and intellectual property [3][4]. - The revised law emphasizes the need for a governance structure within arbitration institutions and sets standards for the appointment and supervision of arbitrators [7]. Innovation and Technology - The new law introduces provisions for online arbitration, ensuring that online arbitration has the same legal effect as traditional arbitration, thus adapting to technological advancements [7]. - It also includes measures to prevent fraudulent arbitration and streamline the arbitration process, such as shortening the time frame for applying to revoke arbitration [7].