The new ICC rules: What is next for the Mainland arbitration community?

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) recently published a new set of arbitration rules (Rules), which updates the version that has been in force since January 1 1998. The new Rules were launched in Paris on September 12 2011, and then subsequently in Hong Kong on October 10 to 11 2011, and in Singapore on October 12 2011. The new rules will come into force on January 1 2012. For those interested, a complete copy of the Rules can be downloaded from the ICC's website (www.iccwbo.org).

The new Rules come at a time when there are discussions among the Mainland arbitration community as to how to improve their regime. Notably, China is revising its civil procedure rules, and the China International and Trade Arbitration Commission (Cietac) is revising its 2005 Arbitration Rules. A sixth draft of the Cietac rules has been produced and Cietac had hoped to promulgate its new rules by May 2011, but due to a few technical issues, it is still working on them.