{"id":8342,"date":"2025-09-28T17:05:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T09:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/?p=8342"},"modified":"2026-10-17T16:37:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T08:37:34","slug":"commercial-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/commercial-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"What should Taiwanese companies do when faced with cross-border payments and international trade disputes? First, consider jurisdiction, applicable law, evidence, and enforcement."},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fdlaw-trade-article\" lang=\"zh-Hant\"><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><p>When Taiwanese companies engage in international trade and disputes arise, the first question they most frequently ask is: &quot;The other party is located overseas, so where do I file a complaint?&quot;<\/p><p>However, the real issues that need to be addressed in cross-border business disputes are usually not just the courts of which country.<\/p><p>For example:<\/p><ul><li>The overseas customer refused to pay after receiving the goods.<\/li><li>The foreign buyer suddenly claimed there was a quality problem;<\/li><li>The Taiwanese company has already paid a deposit, but the overseas supplier has not delivered the goods.<\/li><li>Foreign agents violated distribution agreements;<\/li><li>OEM\/ODM customers cancel orders;<\/li><li>A foreign company suddenly terminated the contract and demanded compensation.<\/li><\/ul><p>Or conversely: a foreign company has already filed a lawsuit against a Taiwanese company in Taiwan.<\/p><p>These cases typically involve:<\/p><ul><li>English or bilingual contracts;<\/li><li>Order;<\/li><li>International freight;<\/li><li>Payment;<\/li><li>acceptance;<\/li><li>Applicable Law;<\/li><li>Jurisdiction of the courts;<\/li><li>arbitration;<\/li><li>Cross-border evidence;<\/li><\/ul><p>And the final execution of the judgment.<\/p><p>Therefore, the real first step is not: &quot;Quickly send a lawyer&#039;s letter.&quot;<\/p><p>Instead, answer four questions first:<strong>Where should it be processed?<\/strong><strong>Which country&#039;s laws apply?<\/strong><strong>Where is the evidence?<\/strong><strong>Even if you win the case, where will the judgment be enforced?<\/strong><\/p><\/section><aside class=\"fdlaw-trade-cta\"><h2>Are there outstanding payments from overseas clients, or have legal documents been received from foreign companies?<\/h2><p>When a cross-border business dispute arises, you can first organize the English contracts, orders, invoices, shipments, payments, emails, as well as the applicable law and dispute resolution clauses in the contracts, and then decide on the strategy of demand for action, preservation, Taiwan litigation, overseas litigation or international arbitration.<\/p><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-actions\"><a href=\"https:\/\/line.me\/ti\/p\/@723pifhz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LINE inquiries about international trade\/cross-border business cases<\/a><a href=\"tel:0277093611\">For company business cases, please call directly.<\/a><\/div><p><a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/commercial\/\">Corporate Business and Cross-border Dispute Legal Services<\/a><\/p><\/aside><nav class=\"fdlaw-trade-flow\" aria-label=\"Four-layer architecture for cross-border disputes\"><span><small>01<\/small>right of claim<\/span><span><small>02<\/small>evidence<\/span><span><small>03<\/small>assets<\/span><span><small>04<\/small>implement<\/span><\/nav><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>I. Cross-border business disputes cannot be resolved solely by considering &quot;who breached the contract&quot;.<\/h2><p>The same international transaction may involve:<\/p><ul><li>Taiwanese company;<\/li><li>Italian company;<\/li><li>Chinese factories;<\/li><li>Singapore payment account;<\/li><li>German customer;<\/li><\/ul><p>US contract template.<\/p><p>So even if on the surface it&#039;s just: &quot;Payment owed for goods&quot;<\/p><p>Before legal proceedings actually begin, it is still necessary to confirm: who are the true parties to the contract?<\/p><p>Who placed the order?<\/p><p>Who pays?<\/p><p>Who will receive the goods?<\/p><p>Who issued the invoice?<\/p><p>Where should the goods be delivered?<\/p><p>Which country&#039;s law should be used in the contract?<\/p><p>Which court should I write about?<\/p><p>Is there an arbitration clause?<\/p><p>Where are the other party&#039;s main assets located?<\/p><p>Cross-border cases cannot rely solely on a single invoice to determine the entire legal strategy.<\/p><p>Such cases can be handled by<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/commercial\/\">Corporate Business and Cross-border Commercial Dispute Lawyer<\/a>Integrate transaction, procedure and execution assessments.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section fdlaw-trade-matter\"><h2>II. Fidelity Law Firm is currently representing an Italian company in an international debt litigation filed in Taiwan.<\/h2><p class=\"fdlaw-trade-eyebrow\">Currently handling cases on behalf of [the client].<\/p><dl class=\"fdlaw-trade-facts\"><div><dt>Foreign company principals<\/dt><dd>Italian company<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>counterparty in the transaction<\/dt><dd>Taiwanese company<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Case types<\/dt><dd>International goods transactions\/payment of goods<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Trial Authority<\/dt><dd>Taiwan District Court<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>proxy role<\/dt><dd>The foreign company is the plaintiff&#039;s legal representative.<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Attorney in Charge<\/dt><dd>Lawyer Li Yusheng<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Case Status<\/dt><dd>Still under trial<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><p>Fidelity Law Firm is currently representing an Italian company in a civil lawsuit filed against a Taiwanese company in a Taiwanese court regarding a dispute over payment for goods arising from an international trade transaction.<\/p><p>The case:<\/p><ul><li>The plaintiff is an Italian company;<\/li><li>The defendant is a Taiwanese company;<\/li><li>The main dispute concerns payment for goods in international transactions;<\/li><\/ul><p>Attorney Li Yusheng acted as the litigation representative for the foreign company.<\/p><p>The case is still under trial in court.<\/p><p>This case presents practical experience in handling the case, rather than the final judgment.<\/p><p>Fidelity Law Firm is actually handling cases for foreign companies:<\/p><ul><li>English business documents;<\/li><li>International trade in goods;<\/li><li>Cross-border evidence;<\/li><li>Taiwanese court procedures;<\/li><\/ul><p>And international debt claims.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img class=\"wp-image-12829\" src=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/international-trade-dispute.png\" width=\"638\" height=\"579\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u53bb\u8b58\u5225\u5316\u53f0\u7063\u5730\u65b9\u6cd5\u9662\u7d66\u4ed8\u8ca8\u6b3e\u6c11\u4e8b\u88c1\u5b9a\uff0c\u674e\u80b2\u6607\u5f8b\u5e2b\u64d4\u4efb\u8a34\u8a1f\u4ee3\u7406\u4eba\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/international-trade-dispute.png 638w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/international-trade-dispute-300x272.png 300w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/international-trade-dispute-13x12.png 13w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>&quot;Fidelity Law Firm is currently representing foreign companies in international debt civil litigation in Taiwanese courts. The parties, case number, and other identifying information in the ruling have been obscured; the case is still under review, and this image does not represent the final judgment.&quot;<\/p><p class=\"fdlaw-trade-note\">This case is still under trial. It only presents practical experience in handling the case and does not represent or guarantee any judgment outcome.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>3. If a Taiwanese company is a creditor, should the lawsuit be filed in Taiwan or abroad?<\/h2><p>There is no single answer that applies to all cases.<\/p><p>First, we need to check whether the contract stipulates the court.<\/p><p>For example, a contract might state:<\/p><ul><li>Taipei District Court;<\/li><li>Singapore courts;<\/li><li>British courts;<\/li><\/ul><p>Courts in other countries.<\/p><p>It could also be not a court at all, but rather: international arbitration.<\/p><p>If the contract does not explicitly stipulate this, further action is required:<\/p><ul><li>The defendant&#039;s location;<\/li><li>Contract fulfillment;<\/li><li>Transactional relationship;<\/li><\/ul><p>Analysis of procedural laws in various countries to determine jurisdiction.<\/p><p>But &quot;has jurisdiction&quot;<\/p><p>That&#039;s not the only problem.<\/p><p>For example, a Taiwanese court might have the opportunity to hear the case, but all of the other party&#039;s assets are in Europe.<\/p><p>Even if Taiwan wins the case, it may still need to go to a foreign country for recognition and enforcement.<\/p><p>Therefore, when choosing a venue for litigation, the following should also be considered:<strong>Where can I file a lawsuit?<\/strong>and:<strong>Where is the money to carry out this?<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-routes\"><span>Taiwan courts<\/span><span>Overseas courts<\/span><span>International Arbitration<\/span><\/div><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section fdlaw-trade-law\"><h2>Fourth, the applicable law and court jurisdiction are not the same thing.<\/h2><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-comparison\"><div><h3>Where to sue<\/h3><p>Which court or arbitration body will hear the case?<\/p><\/div><div><h3>Which country&#039;s law applies?<\/h3><p>Which country&#039;s laws determine contractual rights and obligations?<\/p><\/div><\/div><p>This is one of the most common misunderstandings about international contracts.<\/p><p>The contract may stipulate: &quot;This contract shall be governed by English law.&quot;<\/p><p>However, it also states: &quot;The Taipei District Court of Taiwan has jurisdiction.&quot;<\/p><p>These are not necessarily contradictory.<\/p><p>Because: the applicable law answers which country&#039;s law determines the rights and obligations under a contract.<\/p><p>The answer to &quot;jurisdiction&quot; is: which court or arbitration body hears the case.<\/p><p>The two issues must be addressed separately.<\/p><p>According to Taiwan&#039;s<a href=\"https:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/LawClass\/LawAll.aspx?pcode=B0000007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law on the Application of Law in Foreign-related Civil Cases<\/a>Article 20<\/p><p>In principle, the obligations arising from contracts should respect the parties&#039; intent regarding the applicable law.<\/p><p>If no effective alternative is found, then the principle of closest relationship should be used for further judgment.<\/p><p>Therefore, when disputes arise in international contracts, the first thing to do is to identify the Governing Law Clause and the Jurisdiction\/Arbitration Clause.<\/p><p>If the specific case applies under Taiwanese law, the performance of the contract and the claim for payment shall still be governed by law.<a href=\"https:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/LawClass\/LawAll.aspx?pcode=B0000001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">civil law<\/a>Determine the specific terms of the transaction.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>V. What can Fidelity Law Firm do if a Taiwanese company wants to file a lawsuit overseas?<\/h2><p>If the actual jurisdiction lies with a foreign court, Taiwanese lawyers cannot obtain the right to practice law in that country.<\/p><p>Therefore, the most professional way to handle cross-border litigation is not to pretend: &quot;Taiwanese lawyers can appear in courts of any country.&quot;<\/p><p>Instead, it was handled by Fidelity Law Firm:<strong>Taiwan Duan Zhuzhi Legal Team<\/strong>assist:<\/p><ul><li>Organize the transaction structure;<\/li><li>Review the English contract;<\/li><li>Confirming the Taiwan legal issue;<\/li><li>Create a timeline;<\/li><li>Organize order, invoice, and shipping documentation;<\/li><li>Calculate the content of the claim;<\/li><li>Prepare case summaries in both Chinese and English;<\/li><li>Communicate with local lawyers overseas;<\/li><\/ul><p>Assist the head office or management in understanding different litigation strategies.<\/p><p>When it is truly necessary to appear in a foreign court or submit procedural documents, the matter shall be handled by a lawyer qualified locally, in accordance with the regulations of that country.<\/p><p>This can prevent Taiwanese companies from directly:<\/p><ul><li>Hundreds of emails;<\/li><li>Dozens of orders;<\/li><li>Chinese accounting;<\/li><\/ul><p>All the Chinese company documents were handed over to foreign lawyers, but no one first sorted out the real core of the case.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>VI. What documents should be prepared in the first batch if overseas customers owe money?<\/h2><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence\"><p>At least including:<\/p><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>contract<\/h3><ul><li>Master Agreement<\/li><li>Sales Agreement<\/li><li>Distribution Agreement<\/li><li>Terms and Conditions<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>Order<\/h3><ul><li>Purchase Order<\/li><li>Quotation<\/li><li>Order Confirmation<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>payment<\/h3><ul><li>Invoice<\/li><li>Payment terms<\/li><li>Partial payment records<\/li><li>Bank Transfer<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>delivery<\/h3><ul><li>Packing List<\/li><li>Bill of Lading<\/li><li>Air Waybill<\/li><li>Customs declaration documents<\/li><li>Sign for<\/li><li>acceptance<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>communicate<\/h3><ul><li>Email<\/li><li>LINE<\/li><li>WhatsApp<\/li><li>Teams<\/li><li>Meeting minutes<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-evidence-item\"><h3>After breach of contract<\/h3><ul><li>Debt collection<\/li><li>Quality disputes<\/li><li>Refund Request<\/li><li>Discount<\/li><li>Reconciliation Discussion<\/li><li>Termination Notice<\/li><li>Genuine international payment cases<\/li><li>Rarely relying solely on:<\/li><li>An invoice.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>7. Can I still pursue payment for goods without a formal, complete contract?<\/h2><p>That doesn&#039;t mean it&#039;s impossible.<\/p><p>International trade is often a long-term endeavor.<\/p><p>The transaction may be conducted by:<\/p><ul><li>Quotation;<\/li><li>Purchase Order;<\/li><li>Order Confirmation;<\/li><li>Invoice;<\/li><li>Shipment;<\/li><li>Receive goods;<\/li><\/ul><p>Payments were made repeatedly.<\/p><p>Therefore, even if there is no document titled &quot;International Sales Agreement&quot;...<\/p><p>The official document still needs to include:<\/p><ul><li>The two parties have a long-standing trading relationship;<\/li><li>Each order;<\/li><li>price;<\/li><li>delivery;<\/li><li>acceptance;<\/li><\/ul><p>The payments are linked together.<\/p><p>What really needs to be proven is: what exactly the two parties agreed upon, and whether the transaction has been fulfilled.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>8. What should a Taiwanese company do if a foreign customer suddenly claims that the goods are defective?<\/h2><p>Don&#039;t just reply, &quot;There&#039;s nothing wrong with our product.&quot;<\/p><p>Should be retained immediately:<\/p><ul><li>Product specifications;<\/li><li>sample;<\/li><li>Quality inspection;<\/li><li>Acceptance criteria;<\/li><li>Photos taken before shipment;<\/li><li>Third-party inspection;<\/li><li>Customer complaint time;<\/li><li>Return requirements;<\/li><li>Repair records;<\/li><li>Replace records;<\/li><\/ul><p>And whether the other party continues to use or resell the product.<\/p><p>The real core of many payment disputes is not: &quot;Whether there are defects or not&quot;.<\/p><p>The question is: when should it be raised?<\/p><p>How is acceptance carried out as stipulated in the contract?<\/p><p>Is the defect significant?<\/p><p>Was there an opportunity to make corrections?<\/p><p>Can the damage caused by defects be used to offset the entire payment for the goods?<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>9. Incoterms are important, but they cannot solve all legal problems.<\/h2><p>International trade contracts often include terms such as EX, W, FOB, CI, FDA, PD, DP, etc.<\/p><p>Incoterms can help clarify:<\/p><ul><li>delivery;<\/li><li>transportation;<\/li><li>Risk transfer;<\/li><\/ul><p>Partial cost allocation.<\/p><p>However, this does not mean that writing FOB automatically means:<\/p><ul><li>Payment terms;<\/li><li>Liability for defects;<\/li><li>Compensation for breach of contract;<\/li><li>Applicable Law;<\/li><\/ul><p>All court jurisdiction issues have been resolved.<\/p><p>Incoterms are only one part of the transaction structure.<\/p><p>The configuration details before signing the contract can be consulted together.<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/international-trade-contract-risk-taiwan\/\">Risks associated with overseas orders and international trade contracts<\/a>.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>10. When should an international lawyer&#039;s letter be sent?<\/h2><p>A lawyer&#039;s letter is typically suitable for:<\/p><ul><li>Clearly list the amount of unpaid payments;<\/li><li>Point out the breach of contract;<\/li><li>Set a final payment deadline;<\/li><li>Refuse unreasonable deductions;<\/li><li>Reserve legal rights;<\/li><\/ul><p>A settlement window has been proposed.<\/p><p>However, the lawyer&#039;s letter is not the purpose itself.<\/p><p>If the other party has already:<\/p><ul><li>Financial deterioration;<\/li><li>Business closed;<\/li><li>Transfer of assets;<\/li><\/ul><p>Deliberately delaying and sending letters back and forth is not necessarily the best strategy.<\/p><p>At this point, a direct assessment may be necessary:<\/p><ul><li>Presumptive seizure;<\/li><li>litigation;<\/li><li>arbitration;<\/li><\/ul><p>Or other preservation procedures.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>11. Why should we examine the other party&#039;s assets first in international loan disputes?<\/h2><p>Because winning a lawsuit and actually receiving the money are two different things.<\/p><p>If the overseas debtor does not:<\/p><ul><li>Bank deposits;<\/li><li>real estate;<\/li><li>Accounts receivable;<\/li><li>equipment;<\/li><\/ul><p>Other executable assets may have limited commercial value if a judgment is obtained.<\/p><p>Therefore, cross-border claims should also consider:<\/p><ul><li>Right of claim;<\/li><li>evidence;<\/li><li>Jurisdiction;<\/li><li>assets;<\/li><\/ul><p>implement.<\/p><p>Instead of asking, &quot;Does the other party have any assets?&quot; only after the lawsuit is over.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>12. Can a Taiwanese company request a preliminary attachment before litigation?<\/h2><p>It depends on the jurisdiction and local procedural laws.<\/p><p>If it&#039;s a Taiwanese procedure, the creditor must comply with our country&#039;s...<a href=\"https:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/LawClass\/LawAll.aspx?pcode=B0010001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Civil Procedure Law<\/a>When the requirements are met,<\/p><p>It is possible to assess a false seizure.<\/p><p>But the court will review:<\/p><ul><li>Claims;<\/li><li>The risk that enforcement may be impossible or difficult in the future;<\/li><\/ul><p>And related legal requirements, and may involve guarantees.<\/p><p>No: The court will not necessarily freeze assets as long as the other party owes money.<\/p><p>If the assets are located overseas, a separate assessment of the preservation measures will be required in accordance with local laws and by a local lawyer.<\/p><p>The procedure preparation can also be referenced.<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/commercial-litigation-company\/\">Corporate Commercial Litigation, Presumptive Seizure and Evidence Strategy<\/a>.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>13. If a judgment has already been obtained from Taiwan, can it be directly enforced abroad?<\/h2><p>It cannot be preset.<\/p><p>Each country has its own regulations regarding the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments.<\/p><p>If: the Taiwanese company wins the case in Taiwan, but the debtor&#039;s main assets are overseas, the next step may need to be in the country where the assets are located:<\/p><ul><li>Apply for recognition;<\/li><li>Obtain an enforcement license;<\/li><\/ul><p>Then it will be implemented locally.<\/p><p>Therefore, when signing a contract, one should consider: where will the future judgment be enforced?<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>14. Conversely, can foreign judgments be directly enforced in Taiwan?<\/h2><p>It cannot be executed directly.<\/p><p>According to Article 402 of the Civil Procedure Law of Taiwan, the validity of a foreign court&#039;s judgment in Taiwan must still comply with the provisions of Taiwan law.<\/p><p>For example, it may involve:<\/p><ul><li>Does the foreign court have proper jurisdiction?<\/li><li>Did the defendant receive proper procedural notice and opportunity to respond?<\/li><li>Does the judgment or procedure violate my country&#039;s public order?<\/li><\/ul><p>And factors such as mutual recognition.<\/p><p>according to<a href=\"https:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/LawClass\/LawAll.aspx?pcode=B0010004\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enforcement Law<\/a>,<\/p><p>If a foreign court judgment is to be enforced in Taiwan, it must obtain permission from a Taiwanese court to enforce it in accordance with the law.<\/p><p>Therefore, if a foreign company has already obtained a judgment overseas, but the debtor&#039;s assets are in Taiwan, a &quot;Taiwan recognition + enforcement procedure&quot; should still be designed first.<\/p><p>According to Article 402 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the recognition of a foreign court&#039;s judgment in Taiwan must meet relevant legal requirements; according to Article 4-1 of the Enforcement Act, an application for enforcement of the judgment in Taiwan still requires permission from a Taiwanese court to enforce the judgment.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>15. When disputes arise in English contracts, the truly important factor is not the translation, but the transaction structure.<\/h2><p>For example, a sentence like: &quot;Payment shall be made within 60 days after delivery.&quot;<\/p><p>It appears to be just a payment condition.<\/p><p>However, the actual case still needs to be clarified: how exactly is delivery defined?<\/p><p>Is it to hand it over to the carrier?<\/p><p>Arrival at port?<\/p><p>Customs clearance?<\/p><p>Delivered to the buyer&#039;s warehouse?<\/p><p>Or is the acceptance process complete?<\/p><p>If the contract contains:<\/p><ul><li>Incoterms;<\/li><li>Acceptance;<\/li><li>Inspection;<\/li><li>Invoice;<\/li><\/ul><p>All payment terms must be read together.<\/p><p>Therefore, reviewing English contracts is never just about translating English into Chinese.<\/p><p>Contract review includes<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/english-contract-review-2\/\">English contract review and cross-border contract terms<\/a>Overall interpretation.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>16. Taiwanese companies also need cross-border case strategies when sued by foreign companies.<\/h2><p>Cross-border cases are not limited to Taiwanese companies pursuing foreign companies.<\/p><p>It could also be that a foreign company seeks compensation from a Taiwanese company.<\/p><p>At this point, Taiwanese companies need to confirm:<\/p><ul><li>Does a foreign court have jurisdiction?<\/li><li>Have I legally received the procedural notification?<\/li><li>Is it necessary to appoint a lawyer immediately overseas?<\/li><li>Which country&#039;s laws apply to the contract?<\/li><\/ul><p>Is it possible for foreign judgments to be enforced in Taiwan in the future?<\/p><p>It cannot be because: &quot;I am in Taiwan.&quot;<\/p><p>They completely ignore overseas court documents.<\/p><p>Missing the deadline for responding to a lawsuit could make the case more difficult to resolve later.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>17. Fidelity Law Firm currently possesses practical experience in handling litigation in Taiwan by foreign companies.<\/h2><p>Our firm is currently representing an Italian company in a Taiwanese court to recover international transaction payments from a Taiwanese company.<\/p><p>These types of cases are handled by Fidelity Law Firm:<\/p><ul><li>Foreign companies trading with Taiwanese companies;<\/li><li>English business documents;<\/li><li>Cross-border evidence;<\/li><li>Taiwanese court procedures;<\/li><\/ul><p>International debt recovery.<\/p><p>Therefore, when Taiwanese companies find themselves in the opposite position and prepare to seek recourse from overseas companies, we can better understand their perspectives from both sides:<\/p><ul><li>What documents does a foreign company really need to prepare?<\/li><li>How foreign headquarters make litigation decisions;<\/li><\/ul><p>And how Taiwanese lawyers collaborate with overseas lawyers.<\/p><p>This case is still under trial and does not represent or predict any final judgment.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section fdlaw-trade-experience\"><h2>18. Approximately 20 years of experience in international business and English contract practice.<\/h2><p>Attorney Li Yusheng has approximately 20 years of legal practice experience and has a long history of handling:<\/p><ul><li>International trade;<\/li><li>English contract;<\/li><li>Cross-border business transactions;<\/li><li>Company law;<\/li><\/ul><p>Civil and commercial litigation.<\/p><p>Fidelity Law Firm has a long history of serving foreign companies and multinational corporations, and has experience assisting hundreds of foreign companies with their legal matters in Taiwan, including:<\/p><ul><li>English and bilingual contracts;<\/li><li>Business negotiations;<\/li><li>Company law;<\/li><li>Laws and regulations must be followed;<\/li><li>Debt recovery;<\/li><li>Dispute resolution;<\/li><\/ul><p>and litigation.<\/p><p>The key to cross-border business cases is not translating documents into English.<\/p><p>Instead, let:<\/p><ul><li>Taiwan end;<\/li><li>Overseas headquarters;<\/li><li>Foreign lawyers;<\/li><\/ul><p>The court or arbitration body sees the same complete set of facts and evidence in the case.<\/p><p>Depend on<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/team\/charles-lee\/\">Lawyer Li Yusheng<\/a>Combination<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/consulting\/\">Corporate legal counsel and international business legal services<\/a>Experience in handling legal collaborations between the Taiwan team and overseas teams.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>19. When a cross-border dispute actually occurs between enterprises, do these six things first.<\/h2><ol><li>Do not delete emails, chat logs, or transaction data.<\/li><li>Link the contract, purchase order, invoice, shipment, and payment together.<\/li><li>Find the Governing Law.<\/li><li>Find the Jurisdiction \/ Arbitration Clause.<\/li><li>Confirm which country the other party&#039;s assets are located in.<\/li><li>Before sending out an ultimatum or initiating a procedure, determine the actual execution strategy.<\/li><\/ol><\/section><section class=\"fdlaw-trade-section\"><h2>FAQ<\/h2><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Can I file a lawsuit in Taiwan if a foreign customer owes me money?<\/h3><p>The jurisdiction of a Taiwanese court must be determined based on the contractual jurisdiction clause, the parties involved, the performance relationship, and relevant procedural laws. It cannot be assumed that a Taiwanese court necessarily has jurisdiction simply because the plaintiff is a Taiwanese company.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Can a Taiwanese company hire Fidelity Law Firm to appear directly in foreign courts?<\/h3><p>Fidelity Law Firm can serve as the lead legal team in Taiwan, handling contracts, evidence, legal issues, and litigation strategies, and assisting with collaborations with local foreign lawyers. However, actual practice and appearances in foreign courts must still comply with the legal qualification regulations of that country.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>If an English contract uses foreign law, can Taiwanese courts still process it?<\/h3><p>Applicable law and court jurisdiction are different issues. In some cases, Taiwanese courts may hear the case but apply foreign law; in such cases, the rules of contract and international law should still be applied.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Can I sue someone if there&#039;s no formal contract for international trade, only a purchase order (PO) and an invoice?<\/h3><p>The absence of a formal master contract does not necessarily preclude the assertion of rights. It is still essential to examine quotations, orders, confirmations, invoices, delivery records, payments, and all other correspondence between the parties to reconstruct a complete transaction.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Can an overseas company refuse to pay the full amount if it claims the goods are defective?<\/h3><p>Not necessarily. It&#039;s necessary to confirm the contract&#039;s acceptance procedures, the details of the defects, the notification time, the product&#039;s usage, and whether the damage and set-off are legal.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Should a lawyer&#039;s letter be sent first in cross-border payment cases?<\/h3><p>Many cases are suitable for issuing a formal demand first, but if the other party is already in financial crisis or at risk of asset transfer, preservation or litigation should be assessed at the same time, and the lawyer&#039;s letter should not be used as an indefinite delay.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>Can a foreign court judgment be used to directly enforce the assets of a Taiwanese company?<\/h3><p>In principle, it is still necessary to confirm the requirements for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in accordance with Taiwan&#039;s Code of Civil Procedure and Enforcement Act.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-trade-subsection\"><h3>What is the most important thing in cross-border litigation?<\/h3><p>It&#039;s not just about determining who breached the contract, but about putting jurisdiction, applicable law, evidence, the other party&#039;s assets, and the place of final enforcement into the same strategy.<\/p><\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"fdlaw-related-posts\"><h2 class=\"fdlaw-related-posts__title\">Further reading<\/h2><div class=\"fdlaw-related-posts__grid\"><a class=\"fdlaw-related-card\" href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/international-trade-contract-risk-taiwan\/\"><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__image\"><img width=\"540\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/messageImage_1786110052567.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 40px), (max-width: 1100px) 45vw, 520px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/messageImage_1786110052567.jpg 540w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/messageImage_1786110052567-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/messageImage_1786110052567-18x12.jpg 18w\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__body\"><h3 class=\"fdlaw-related-card__title\">Overseas Orders and International Trade Risks: Important Considerations for Export Contracts, Payment, Delivery, Acceptance, and Dispute Resolution<\/h3><p class=\"fdlaw-related-card__excerpt\">Overseas orders, export contracts, and international trade risks: Before signing any contract, it&#039;s crucial to confirm the terms of the overseas order. Don&#039;t just look at the purchase order and amount; payment terms, delivery, acceptance, risk transfer, applicable law, and dispute resolution clauses all affect subsequent claims. For high-volume exports, new customers, partial deliveries, or cross-border payment arrangements, it&#039;s essential to first confirm the contracting party, the payer, and the recipient\u2026<\/p><span class=\"fdlaw-related-card__more\">Read the full article \u2192<\/span><\/div><\/a><a class=\"fdlaw-related-card\" href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/commercial-litigation-company\/\"><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__image\"><img width=\"768\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-768x419.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 40px), (max-width: 1100px) 45vw, 520px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-768x419.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-300x164.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-1024x559.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-1536x838.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-2048x1117.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gemini_Generated_Image_9iq22i9iq22i9iq2-18x10.jpeg 18w\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__body\"><h3 class=\"fdlaw-related-card__title\">What should a company do if it faces commercial litigation? First, assess the contract, evidence, damages, and asset preservation.<\/h3><p class=\"fdlaw-related-card__excerpt\">When companies encounter commercial disputes and lawsuits, the first and most common question is, &quot;Can I sue?&quot; But the real question should usually be not whether a lawsuit can be filed, but what the company ultimately wants to achieve. Is it to recover payment? To demand the other party continue to fulfill the contract? To terminate the cooperation? To stop the other party from using its technology or data? To claim damages for breach of contract\u2026<\/p><span class=\"fdlaw-related-card__more\">Read the full article \u2192<\/span><\/div><\/a><a class=\"fdlaw-related-card\" href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/english-contract-review-2\/\"><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__image\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/357941b40aedd191f48f7c9709cd28b3.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) calc(100vw - 40px), (max-width: 1100px) 45vw, 520px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/357941b40aedd191f48f7c9709cd28b3.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/357941b40aedd191f48f7c9709cd28b3-300x204.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/357941b40aedd191f48f7c9709cd28b3-18x12.jpeg 18w\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"fdlaw-related-card__body\"><h3 class=\"fdlaw-related-card__title\">What is the importance and skills of English contract review? How can a lawyer provide assistance with contract review?<\/h3><p class=\"fdlaw-related-card__excerpt\">This article focuses on quickly reviewing English contracts, not translating them: confirming the governing law, jurisdiction, payment terms, breach of contract, limitation of liability, and cross-border enforcement. Avoid conflicts between English and Chinese versions: if the two language versions differ, the version that takes precedence should be clearly stated. In international transactions, pay attention to arbitration and courts: the place of arbitration, the court of jurisdiction, the governing law, and the recognition of the judgment\u2026<\/p><span class=\"fdlaw-related-card__more\">Read the full article \u2192<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u53f0\u7063\u4f01\u696d\u505a\u570b\u969b\u8cbf\u6613\uff0c\u771f\u6b63\u767c\u751f\u722d\u8b70\u6642\uff0c\u6700\u5e38\u554f\u7684\u7b2c\u4e00\u500b\u554f\u984c\u662f\uff1a\u300c\u5c0d\u65b9\u4eba\u5728\u570b\u5916\uff0c\u6211\u5230\u5e95\u8981\u53bb\u54ea\u88e1\u544a\uff1f\u300d \u4f46\u8de8\u5883\u5546\u52d9\u7cfe\u7d1b [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"qubely_global_settings":"","qubely_interactions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[392,39,72,83,73],"class_list":["post-8342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-counsel","tag-392","tag-39","tag-72","tag-83","tag-73"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"qubely_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-540x320.jpg",540,320,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-300x211.jpg",300,211,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"large":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-18x12.jpg",18,12,true],"qubely_landscape":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544.jpg",563,396,false],"qubely_portrait":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-540x320.jpg",540,320,true],"qubely_thumbnail":["https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/messageImage_1759047459544-140x100.jpg",140,100,true]},"qubely_author":{"display_name":"\u674e\u80b2\u6607\u5f8b\u5e2b","author_link":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/author\/charles-lee\/"},"qubely_comment":3,"qubely_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/blog\/category\/legal-counsel\/\" rel=\"category tag\">\u516c\u53f8\u6cd5\u5f8b\u9867\u554f<\/a>","qubely_excerpt":"\u53f0\u7063\u4f01\u696d\u505a\u570b\u969b\u8cbf\u6613\uff0c\u771f\u6b63\u767c\u751f\u722d\u8b70\u6642\uff0c\u6700\u5e38\u554f\u7684\u7b2c\u4e00\u500b\u554f\u984c\u662f\uff1a\u300c\u5c0d\u65b9\u4eba\u5728\u570b\u5916\uff0c\u6211\u5230\u5e95\u8981\u53bb\u54ea\u88e1\u544a\uff1f\u300d \u4f46\u8de8\u5883\u5546\u52d9\u7cfe\u7d1b&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8342"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12832,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8342\/revisions\/12832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fdlaw.com.tw\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}