China is actively promoting further industrialisation of its ­already large aquaculture industry, including land-based ­solutions. This presents an opportunity for foreign players with access to know-how and technology and in this article we take a look at the typical project structure and common concerns for land-based aquaculture projects in China.

On 10 October 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Transport (Ministry) announced that it would impose special port fees (Special Port Fees) against vessels with a US nexus calling at Chinese ports. These were adopted in response to the fees and trade restrictions introduced by the United States Trade Representative earlier this year targeting China-linked vessels (USTR Fees).

We examine the effect on various English law governed maritime contracts from the targeted action by the U.S. Trade Representative seeking to reduce the power of Chinese parties in the maritime sector.

Since April 2024 the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ("USTR") has been conducting an investigation into acts, policies, and practices of the People’s Republic of China in relation to the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.

We are delighted to inform that our office in Shanghai has been honored with the Foreign Shipping Firm of the Year Award at the Legal 500 China Awards! Chelsea Chen and Ronin Zong were shortlisted for the Shipping Lawyer of the Year award alongside three other highly reputable professionals from top English shipping firms in China. 

Offshore wind power is a promising renewable energy source that can help the world achieve its carbon neutrality goals and China is one of the world’s largest offshore wind markets. However, the Chinese offshore wind sector is changing, especially after the government subsidies for offshore wind projects were phased out at the end of 2021.

ESG has been developing for decades internationally, in particular in the West, but has not been as well known in mainland China until more recently. Now, however, ESG is increasingly seen as a political priority aligned with the goal of “common prosperity” and therefore firmly on the agenda of large Chinese companies. This includes many shipping companies, where it is also expected that China’s push within green shipping will lead to more mandatory ESG obligations being introduced.

China

Contract Law and Construction

Fisheries and Aquaculture

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Sanctions and Export Controls

Ship and rig recycling

Shipping

Trade Restrictions, Customs and Tariffs

Shipping Offshore

Partner

Ronin is the Managing Partner in Shanghai and has a broad range of experiences in shipping, offshore and project constructions specializing in ship and offshore vessel/unit construction and sale, ship and project financing, charterparty.

In the shipping field, his experience covers all aspects of the construction and conversion of ships, together with their construction financing, charterparty and re-sale. In the offshore field, he has a variety of experiences in offshore vessels and units construction/conversion, offshore project structuring and general risk analysis, offshore vessel/unit service contracts, and offshore construction financing. On the energy and natural resources side, Zong has been involved in a variety of EPC contract negotiations, regulatory compliance advices, project structuring and financing.

Ronin's clients include Chinese state-owned oil giants, shipbuilders, big Chinese financial institutions and reputable international shipowners and offshore operator and contractors.

His practice also covers contentious side in international arbitrations.

Shanghai

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Ronin is the Managing Partner in Shanghai and has a broad range of experiences in shipping, offshore and project constructions specializing in ship and offshore vessel/unit construction and sale, ship and project financing, charterparty.

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