China Maritime Arbitration Commission (“CMAC”), established within the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (China Chamber of International Commerce) on 22 January 1959 in accordance with the Decision made by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, is a permanent international arbitration institution which enjoys international reputation for its expertise in resolving admiralty, maritime, transport, logistics-related disputes and other commercial disputes agreed by parties.

With dual headquarters in Beijing and Shanghai, CMAC has sub-commissions/arbitration centers in Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Zhoushan, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen and Haikou. It has set up its Hong Kong Arbitration Center in the Hong Kong SAR, and has liaison offices in major Chinese coastal cities such as Ningbo and Nanning. To provide professional ADR services for specific business sectors, CMAC established the Construction Dispute Arbitration Center, the Aviation Dispute Arbitration Center, the Aviation Dispute Mediation Center, the Salvage Disputes Mediation Center, etc.

CMAC maintains a uniform standard of arbitration service within its network, and its Arbitration Rules and the Panel of Arbitrators are uniformly applied to CMAC headquarters and sub-commissions/arbitration centers. The parties can choose the headquarters or sub-commission nearby to administer their arbitration case.

In accordance with CMAC Rules on the Conferral of Qualification of Arbitrators, the term of office for arbitrators listed on the CMAC Panel of Arbitrator is five years. The current term will expire on 30 April 2026. CMAC will commence the renewal process of the Panel of Arbitrator. The details are as follows:

I. Conditions for Application

In accordance with the Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China (“Arbitration Law”), CMAC Rules on the Conferral of Qualification of Arbitrators and CMAC Code of Conduct for Arbitrators, the applicants shall meet the following conditions:

1. Chinese arbitrators shall have a fair and upright character, demonstrate professional excellence, stay diligent, honest, and clean, live by professional ethics, and fulfill the requirements specified in Articles 21 and 22 of the China’s Arbitration Law amended on 12 September 2025, which are: (i) Having passed the China’s National Judicial Examination, obtaining the legal professional qualification certificate, and having been engaged in arbitration work for at least 8 years; (ii) Having practiced as a lawyer for at least 8 years; (iii) Having served as a judge or prosecutor for at least 8 years; (iv) Having been engaged in legal research or legal education, possessing a senior professional title; (v) Having acquired the knowledge of law, engaged in the field of economic and trade, maritime affairs and maritime commerce, science and technology with senior professional titles or equivalent professional level;

2. Supporting the Articles of Association of CMAC, and willing to abide by CMAC Code of Conduct for Arbitrators, CMAC Rules for Evaluating the Behavior of Arbitrators, and other relevant regulations of the CMAC;

3. Being honest, diligent, prudent, highly efficient, with good insights and judgment, with strong oral and written communication skills, and ensure sufficient time for handling arbitration cases;

4. Mastering a foreign language and able to use it as a working language, which requirement may be relaxed to a certain extent for a few well-known professionals;

5. No record of criminal penalties or severe administrative penalties, and no record of disciplinary actions or industry sanctions in the past five years;

6. In principle, not exceeding 65 years of age (by 1 May 2026);

Applicants who meet one of the following conditions and provide corresponding supporting documents will be given priority consideration:

1. Having served as an arbitrator for other arbitration institutions or as an ad hoc arbitrator, with rich experience in arbitration adjudication;

2. Having extensive experience in representing parties in international maritime and commercial arbitration cases;

3. Being a professor at a well-known law school, a senior legal executive of a multinational corporation, or an outstanding judge with over 15 years of experience in foreign maritime and commercial trial;

4. Being a professional in fields such as maritime/shipping, securities, futures, finance, construction engineering, intellectual property, energy, Internet+, artificial intelligence and other emerging industries;

5. Holding nationality or residing in countries or regions along the Belt and Road Initiative.

II. Submission of Application Materials

1. Applicants that meets the above conditions and voluntarily applies to be a CMAC arbitrator, please fill in the online arbitrator application form on CMAC’s official website (https://arb.earbitration.org.cn/arbLogin) and submit before 24:00, 31 December 2025 (GMT+8). You may update online at any time before the deadline, but please ensure to click “Submit” after each update.

If you have already filled in the online application before this, it is recommended that you log in again to check and ensure the accuracy of the content in your application form.

If you have problems in filling in the online arbitrator application form, you can also download the Application Form (Appendix) and send the completed Application Form to lizejun@cmac.org.cn, or mail to CMAC Supervision and Coordination Division (Add.: 13/F, CCOIC Building, 2 Huapichang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing 100035, P. R. China).

2.Applicant shall also submit one or two written recommendation letters from CMAC arbitrators, experts or professors, and ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the letters provided. A few well-known professionals may be exempted from submitting recommendation letters.

The recommendation letters and other materials, if any, shall be submitted online or send to the above email address or mailing address.

3.Arbitrators who are currently listed on the CMAC Panel of Arbitrators do not need to submit application.

III. Review and Conferral of Qualification of Arbitrator

All applications submitted in due course will be examined, reviewed and decided by CMAC. Once approved, CMAC will issue the arbitrator qualification certificates and formally release the new Panel of Arbitrators on 1 May 2026.

We warmly welcome professionals from home and abroad to join CMAC arbitrators team.

Inquiry email: lizejun@cmac.org.cn

China Maritime Arbitration Commission

9 October 2025

Attachment:Announcement on the Renewal of CMAC Panel of Arbitrators 2026.docx