What Trade Assurance Is
Trade Assurance is Alibaba.com's built-in buyer protection program. It covers product quality and on-time shipment disputes for orders paid through Alibaba's platform payment system.
What It Covers
1. On-time shipment
If the supplier misses the agreed ship date, you can open a Trade Assurance claim and potentially recover your deposit.
2. Product quality
If received goods fail to match the agreed specifications (documented in a Pre-Shipment Inspection report or PSI), you can open a claim.
3. Refund arbitration
Alibaba reviews evidence from both sides and issues a decision. Successful claims result in partial or full refunds from the order amount.
What It Does NOT Cover
- Payments made outside Alibaba's platform (direct wire transfers, WeChat Pay, etc.)
- Verbal agreements not documented in the Alibaba contract
- Claims opened after the protection window (typically 30 days post-shipment)
- Supplier shipments that meet the documented spec even if you're unhappy
How to Structure a Deal for Maximum Protection
Document everything in the Trade Assurance contract
Spec sheets, tolerances, materials, color codes, packaging requirements — all need to be in the online contract, not in WeChat messages.
Require PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection)
Before the balance payment, have a third-party inspector (SGS, QIMA, Bureau Veritas) inspect a sample from the production run. A PSI report is the strongest evidence in any subsequent dispute.
Pay through Alibaba's platform
Only platform payments are covered. If a supplier asks for a direct wire to bypass "fees", you lose coverage. Decline.
Use AlibabaPay or TT through platform
TT deposit + TT balance is supported, but must be routed through the platform. Alibaba's platform also supports LC (letter of credit) for larger orders.
When Claims Usually Succeed
- Clear pre-shipment inspection failure report
- Shipment documented as late via the platform shipment tracking
- Product substantively different from platform-listed spec
- Supplier unresponsive after platform dispute opened
When Claims Usually Fail
- Off-platform payment (no coverage)
- Verbal spec changes (no documented evidence)
- Post-receipt acceptance followed by later complaints
- Claim filed after the 30-day window
Compared to Alibaba Escrow
Trade Assurance is Alibaba's current primary protection program. Older "Alibaba Escrow" programs have been retired. Trade Assurance integrates with the full order flow on the platform.
Tips from Experienced Buyers
- Never release payment until PSI passes
- Document all changes in the platform messaging (not external WeChat)
- Keep all shipping documents on file (BL, packing list, commercial invoice)
- For large orders, use LC at sight for additional security
Compared to 1688
1688 doesn't have a direct equivalent to Trade Assurance for international buyers. Use a sourcing agent for 1688 orders; use Alibaba's Trade Assurance for Alibaba orders.
How Catalayer Integrates
Catalayer [Sourcing Agent](/sourcing-agent) helps you structure RFQs that work with Trade Assurance — including spec sheets and payment terms that maximize protection.
Key Takeaways
- Trade Assurance covers on-time shipment + product quality
- Only platform-paid orders are covered
- Document specs in the platform contract, not WeChat
- PSI is the strongest evidence in disputes
- Never release payment before PSI passes
Browse related [/glossary/trade-assurance](/glossary/trade-assurance) and [/guides/how-to-find-suppliers-on-1688](/guides/how-to-find-suppliers-on-1688).