Starting from USD 750
China Supplier
Control Review
Last updated: June 2026
Independent buyer-side review before you send more files, pay tooling fees, sign supplier documents, or scale production in China.
We help global product founders understand who controls the supplier relationship, what has already been disclosed, what should be paused, what should be protected first, and which China-side agreements or filings may be needed next.
Peter Lin
Founder, China IP Gateway
China-side IP, contract & supplier-control lead
What We Check Before You Scale
Supplier-Control Risk Review
In short
A China Supplier Control Review helps overseas founders and product companies decide what to pause, what to protect first, and what agreements or filings should be in place before deeper supplier disclosure in China.
Is This Right For You?
When This Review Makes Sense
Most founders use this review before scaling - not after the supplier relationship has already gone wrong.
Working Through an Agent
A sourcing agent or trading company controls access to the real factory.
Sending Product Files
You are preparing to send CAD/STP, drawings, BOM, firmware notes, samples, or packaging files.
Paying for Mold or Tooling
You paid or may pay for molds, tooling, prototype development, fixtures, or production setup.
Unclear Contracting Party
Your PO, PI, invoice, NDA, or supplier agreement is issued by a trading company or unclear entity.
Brand or Platform Exposure
Your product, packaging, brand name, Chinese name, or listing may appear online.
Moving Toward Production
You are moving from sample stage to production and want to know what must be controlled first.
Starting a Review
You Do Not Need a Perfect File Package
Send what you have. We will confirm whether it is enough for a first review.
Examples are illustrative only. Do not include confidential client materials.
Product / Sample Photos
Photos of product, packaging, label, or prototype.
Factory / Supplier Info
Supplier name, license, factory contact, or Alibaba page.
PO / PI / Invoices
Orders, invoices, payment path, and contract party.
Existing Agreements
NNN, manufacturing, agency, or exclusivity drafts.
Platform Exposure
Alibaba, Global Sources, website, or trade-show listings.
Brand / Trademark Info
English mark, Chinese name, logo, label, or China search result.
Review Scope
What We Check
Each review covers the supplier relationship from multiple angles - identity, IP, contracts, payment path, files, tooling, and commercial structure.
Factory Identity
Verify the real legal entity, license, and location.
Agent / Trading Company Role
Check whether you deal with the factory or an intermediary.
Trademark & Brand Control
Check the status of your mark, logo, and Chinese name.
NNN / Contract / Exclusivity
Review key contract terms, entity match, and exclusivity scope.
PO / PI / Payment Path
Check invoices, payment flow, and commercial leverage points.
Alibaba / Platform Exposure
Check whether products or brand appear on platforms or trade sites.
Mold, Tooling & Development Files
Check ownership and control of molds, tooling, CAD/STP files, drawings, prototypes, improvements, and upgrade rights.
Non-Circumvention Risk
Check whether the factory or agent can bypass you.
What You Receive
What You Receive
A structured written review that tells you what to pause, what to protect first, and what can move forward with controls.
Supplier Relationship Map
Who controls the factory, agent, payment path, files, tooling, brand position, and supplier relationship.
Pause / Protect / Proceed Matrix
Key risks ranked by what should stop, what should be protected first, and what may continue with controls.
China Brand & Filing Snapshot
China trademark status for your brand name, logo, and Chinese name, plus filing priority where relevant.
Agreement Sequence Notes
What is missing in NNN, manufacturing, sourcing-agent, exclusivity, tooling, or development-file terms.
Next-Step Protection Roadmap
Which protection steps should come next: NNN, trademark, patent/design, manufacturing agreement, or supplier restructuring.
Sample Report Preview
Sample structure only. Actual report content depends on the supplier situation and documents reviewed.
Pricing
Starting at USD 750
Typical starting scope for one founder-side supplier-control review.
The exact scope depends on the number of suppliers, documents, and risk issues involved. We confirm the scope and fee before starting.
What affects scope
- Number of suppliers or factories involved
- Number of existing documents to review (PO, PI, NNN, agency agreement)
- Trademark search depth required
- Complexity of agent / trading company structure
Request received.
Thank you. We will review your supplier situation and reply within 12 hours. You can safely continue browsing other China IP Gateway pages while we review your request.
Your information is not shared with any factory or supplier.
Get Started
Request a Supplier Control Review
Tell us what has already been disclosed, what you are planning to send next, and where you are in the China sourcing or manufacturing process.
Useful documents to send (if available)
PO / PI / invoices, NNN or manufacturing draft, sourcing or agency agreement, trademark screenshots, and Alibaba or Global Sources links. You do not need all of these - send whatever you have.
Mold, Tooling & Development File Control
Paying for development does not always mean you control the molds, drawings, CAD/STP files, prototype files, packaging files, or future improvements.
Many product founders pay a Chinese supplier for molds, tooling, samples, prototypes, or engineering work, but later discover that the factory still controls the key assets needed to move production elsewhere.
- who owns or controls the molds, tooling, fixtures, CAD/STP files, drawings, prototypes, and improvements;
- whether the factory can use them for other customers or related products;
- whether technical files must be delivered if you do not proceed with mass production;
- whether PO, PI, invoice, NNN, and manufacturing terms are consistent;
- whether the factory has leverage because key assets are still under its control.
After the Review
Protection Layers After the Review
The review is the diagnostic layer. Depending on the findings, we may recommend one or more follow-on protection paths.
China NNN & OEM Agreements
NNN, manufacturing, non-circumvention, tooling, and exclusivity protection against factory-side misuse.
Explore NNN & OEMChina Trademark Protection
Trademark search, filing, Chinese name strategy, and factory-side brand protection before market entry or supplier discussions.
Explore China TrademarkPatent / Design Protection
Protect product structure, appearance, technical features, and design assets before disclosure or production.
Explore Patent FilingGame & Story IP Protection
For game, card game, tabletop, story, and character IP creators working with China-side manufacturers, publishers, or studios.
Explore Game IPSupplier Control Restructuring
When agent or intermediary control must be restructured into a clearer buyer-side factory position.
Explore RestructuringOur Position
Buyer-Side Only. No Supplier Commissions.
Your factory is not our client - you are.
We do not earn from supplier commissions, factory markups, or sourcing fees.
We are not replacing your sourcing agent. We independently review whether the current structure protects your leverage, IP, contract position, and future supplier access.
FAQ
Common Questions
What is a China Supplier Control Review?
A China Supplier Control Review is an independent buyer-side review that helps you decide what to pause, what to protect first, and what can proceed with controls before deeper supplier disclosure in China.
When should I request this review?
Before you send more files, pay tooling fees, sign supplier documents, or move from sample stage into production.
Is this the same as a factory audit?
No. This is not a factory-floor quality audit. It is a buyer-side review of supplier control, contracts, files, tooling, payment path, and China-side IP risk.
Do I still need a China NNN agreement?
Often yes, but NNN is only one layer. The review helps decide whether NNN, manufacturing terms, trademark filing, or restructuring steps should come first.
What documents should I prepare?
Send what you have: supplier details, PO/PI/invoices, existing agreements, platform links, and brand or trademark information. We confirm what is enough for the first review.
What if I already shared drawings or CAD files?
You can still reduce risk. The review checks what was disclosed, who received it, and which contract or filing steps can still protect your position going forward.
What if I paid for molds or tooling?
Payment does not always mean control. We review ownership language, invoice and contract consistency, file-delivery terms, and whether the factory still holds leverage.
Can this lead to NNN, manufacturing, or restructuring agreements?
Yes. Depending on findings, the review can lead to NNN, manufacturing, exclusivity, tooling-file control, trademark, or supplier-control restructuring work.