PRC court refuses to enforce award in SIAC expedited arbitration

In Noble Resources International Pte Ltd v Good Credit International Trade Co Ltd ^[1], the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court refused to recognise and enforce a Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) award on the basis that the appointment of a sole arbitrator pursuant to the SIAC Rules 2013 on expedited procedure was inconsistent with the parties’ arbitration agreement, which provided for three arbitrators. This decision has implications for any potential claimant considering the use of expedited procedures and likely to obtain an award that will have to be enforced in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).