The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) is a permanent international commercial arbitration institution which independently and impartially resolves international economic and trade disputes by arbitration. The CIETAC is located in Beijing. To meet the growth of arbitration activities, the CIETAC established its Shenzhen Sub-Commission and its Shanghai Sub-commission respectively in 1989 and 1990. The Beijing Headquarters of the CIETAC and its Shenzhen Sub-commission and its Shanghai Sub-commission are one institution. They use the same Arbitration Rules and Panel of Arbitrators and they exercise the same arbitration jurisdiction.

As a permanent international commercial arbitration institution, the CIETAC has its own distinctive features, listed below: Supervision over cases : The CIETAC adopts the practice of reviewing draft awards, after supervising and managing the arbitration proceedings to ensure the impartiality of its awards; The combination of arbitration with conciliation : Combining the advantages of arbitration and conciliation, the tribunal may conciliate the case before or after the commencing of the arbitration proceedings if the parties so desire. If the conciliation fails, the tribunal will continue the arbitration proceedings in accordance with the Arbitration Rules until the final award is issued. The key is that the arbitrators can perform the conciliator's function, if necessary, in the same proceedings ; i.e. the arbitration proceedings. Low cost : The CIETAC tries to provide the most convenient and best service to the parties at the lowest cost. According to CIETAC, taking into account the current Fee Schedule of its Arbitration Rules, the CIETAC charges are quite low compared to other major international commercial arbitration institutions in the world.