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Overseas Supplier Check Report · Guide

What public records can I use for a background check on a Chinese supplier?

Start with China's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn) to confirm the company and its status, then search US import records for shipments naming the supplier, US federal court dockets on CourtListener, and the US Consolidated Screening List and OFAC sanctions search. Together these show whether the company exists, whether it ships to real buyers and whether it appears in disputes or on restricted lists.

Where to look and what to search

China's enterprise registry. Search the Chinese name or unified social credit code on gsxt.gov.cn. Note the status, establishment date, legal representative, address and any entry on the abnormal operations list.
US import records. Most US sea-freight manifest data is public, although shippers can ask for confidentiality, and free bill-of-lading search sites let you search a supplier's English name. Look for repeat shipments to named US importers and products that match what the supplier sells you.
US federal court dockets. Search the supplier's English name on CourtListener, a free archive of US federal court dockets. Look for cases naming the company as a defendant, such as trademark or contract disputes, and read the docket summary.
US screening lists. Run the name through the Consolidated Screening List on trade.gov and the OFAC Sanctions List Search. Try name variants and the Chinese romanisation, since spellings differ.
Public complaints and reviews. Search the company name in quotes with words such as scam, complaint or fraud, and check importer forums. Weigh specific, detailed reports above vague one-line accusations.
Website and domain. Check the domain age with a free WHOIS lookup and whether the address and phone on the website match the licence. Reverse image search the factory photos.

Search tips

Search both the English trading name and the Chinese name; records often use only one
Try with and without Co., Ltd. and the city name
Keep screenshots with dates of what you found, in case you need them later
A match on a screening list needs a careful check of address and details, since names can be shared

When a done-for-you pack helps

If you do not have time to run every search, our report covers the documents you send plus public US records: licence facts and unified social credit code structure, consistency of names, address and payee, business scope, US import record summaries, Federal Register notices, US federal court dockets on CourtListener, and public complaints. We give you links and steps to run the screening list, OFAC and China registry searches yourself, since our report is not a full sanctions or export-control screening or a check of Chinese court records.

US$59 all-in, one-time.
No subscription and no extra fees. Delivered by email within 48 hours of your order. Covers one supplier in mainland China.
See the Overseas Supplier Check Report · US$59

Questions

Do Chinese court records show up in US court searches?

No. CourtListener and US dockets cover US cases only, such as suits filed in US federal courts that name a Chinese company. Disputes inside China are in Chinese court systems, which are separate and in Chinese. A clean US search tells you about US litigation, not about the supplier's record at home.

What if the supplier has no US import records?

That alone is not a warning sign. Many suppliers ship mainly to other countries, sell through trading companies, or ship by air or courier, which do not always appear in the same sea freight records. It means you have less evidence either way, so the licence, payee and sample checks matter more.

Is a background check a legal requirement before importing?

We cannot give legal advice on your obligations. What is clear is that US screening lists exist so businesses can check who they deal with, and checking a supplier against the Consolidated Screening List and the OFAC search is free. For questions about your specific import obligations, ask a customs broker or a lawyer.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-26. Policies change, so read the current version before you act.

Contact

Email james@bucket3.ai. We reply within one business day.
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