Reference
China Business Glossary
Key terms and definitions for Chinese company verification, supplier due diligence, and regulatory compliance. Each term links to relevant guides for deeper context.
A
Annual Report (年报)
A self-filed disclosure submitted by Chinese companies each year. It includes employee counts, contact information, financial summaries, and shareholder confirmations.
Documents ExplainedAbnormal Operations List (经营异常名录)
A public registry of companies flagged for regulatory issues such as missing annual reports, unreachable addresses, or filing discrepancies.
Verification GuideAML (Anti-Money Laundering)
Regulations requiring businesses to screen counterparties against sanctions lists and monitor for suspicious financial activity. Chinese company verification supports AML compliance.
Verification GuideAMR (Administration for Market Regulation)
Provincial-level market regulators that operate under SAMR. They handle local company registration, inspections, and enforcement actions.
FAQB
Business Scope (经营范围)
The legally permitted activities listed on a company's business license. Companies can only operate within their approved scope; activities outside it may be illegal.
Business License GuideBusiness License (营业执照)
The primary registration document issued by SAMR to all Chinese companies. It contains the USCC, legal name, company type, registered capital, address, and business scope.
Business License GuideD
Dishonest Executor (失信被执行人)
A company or person on the national "laolai" blacklist for refusing to comply with court judgments. This triggers restrictions on travel, loans, and government contracts.
FAQDue Diligence
The investigation and verification process conducted before entering a business relationship. For Chinese companies, this includes registration checks, ownership mapping, and risk screening.
Company CheckE
Executed Person (被执行人)
An individual or company subject to a court enforcement order, typically due to unpaid debts or unfulfilled legal obligations. Appearing on this list is a serious risk indicator.
FAQF
Factory (工厂)
A company that manufactures goods directly. Verification involves checking the business scope for manufacturing permissions, address type, and employee counts.
Company CheckG
GSXT (National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System)
The official public-facing portal for Chinese company data. It provides registration details, annual reports, and administrative penalty information.
Documents ExplainedI
ICP License (ICP备案)
An internet content provider license required for operating a website in China. Checking ICP status can verify whether a company's claimed website is officially registered.
Documents ExplainedK
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The process of verifying the identity and legitimacy of a business partner. In the China sourcing context, KYC includes USCC validation, ownership checks, and sanctions screening.
Verification GuideL
Legal Representative (法定代表人)
The individual authorized by law to represent the company in legal matters. They can sign contracts and bear legal liability on behalf of the entity.
Verification GuideR
Registered Capital (注册资本)
The total amount of capital that shareholders have committed to invest in the company, as declared during registration. It does not necessarily reflect paid-in capital.
Business License GuideS
SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation)
The Chinese government body responsible for business registration, licensing, and market supervision. SAMR maintains the official registry of all mainland Chinese companies.
FAQSanctions Screening
The process of checking a company or individual against international sanctions lists (OFAC, EU, UN) and Chinese blacklists to ensure they are not restricted from trade.
Company CheckT
Trading Company (贸易公司)
A company that buys and resells goods without manufacturing them. Trading companies are common intermediaries in Chinese supply chains and may misrepresent themselves as factories.
Company CheckU
USCC (Unified Social Credit Code)
An 18-digit alphanumeric identifier issued to every registered entity in mainland China. It replaced older registration numbers in 2015 and is used across all regulatory filings.
USCC CheckV
VAT Invoice (增值税发票)
The standard tax invoice used in Chinese business transactions. The USCC printed on VAT invoices should match the company's official registration.
USCC Check