📑 Commercial cases · Awareness case
A Danish Company, a London Award and 500 Tonnes of Fish Oil — A Fuzhou Court Turns Enforcement into Settlement · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 承认及执行外国仲裁裁决公约（纽约公约） / New York Convention on Foreign Arbitral Awards
A Fujian firm failed to supply 500 tonnes of Peruvian fish oil to a Danish company and a London arbitration awarded USD 419,500. The Danish side sought enforcement in China under the New York Convention; the Fuzhou court mediated and about USD 280,000 was paid.
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
From the SPC's third batch of foreign-related commercial mediation cases (16 April 2026): in 2019 a Danish company agreed with a Fujian firm to buy 500 tonnes of Peruvian crude fish oil; the Fujian firm could not deliver conforming goods and refunded the price. The Danes went to FOSFA arbitration in London, which in March 2023 awarded USD 419,500 in damages plus interest and costs, and the Fujian firm was placed on FOSFA's defaulters list. In June 2024 the Danish company applied to the Fuzhou Intermediate Court to recognise and enforce the award under the New York Convention. The court consulted experts on the English Arbitration Act 1996, held online hearings and encouraged settlement; the Danish company cut its claim to about USD 280,000, which was paid at once, withdrew its application, and the Fujian firm was removed from the FOSFA list.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
China is a party to the New York Convention, so foreign arbitral awards (London, Dubai and elsewhere) can be enforced against a Chinese company in Chinese courts, and vice versa. Even at the enforcement stage a settlement is often faster.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026