Sourcing glossary
NNN agreement
Also known as: Non-disclosure, non-use, non-circumvention agreement, NNN, China NNN, NNN 계약
A contract with a Chinese manufacturer that bars it from disclosing your product information, using your design for itself, or going around you to sell to your customers.
A Western-style NDA mainly stops disclosure, but the bigger risk in China is that a factory uses your design or sells directly to your customers. An NNN covers non-disclosure, non-use and non-circumvention. It works best when written in Chinese, governed by Chinese law, enforceable in a Chinese court with jurisdiction over the factory, and with a clear liquidated-damages amount.
Sign it with the legal entity that will actually make the product, and sign it before you send drawings or samples. An NNN does not replace registering your trademark and, where relevant, patents in China. See OEM vs ODM.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Suppliers
Is My Chinese Supplier a Scam? 12 Patterns and the Checks That Catch Them
The twelve supplier scams importers meet in China, from the bank-account switch to the vanishing deposit, the check that exposes each, and what to do if you already paid.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 8 min read
Suppliers
China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and When You Need One
What a China sourcing agent actually does, the four types you will meet, typical fees, when an agent beats buying direct, and a checklist to vet one before you pay.
Updated 2026-10-14 · 8 min read
Private label
OEM vs ODM: Which Manufacturing Model Fits Your Product?
OEM, ODM, private label and white label compared: who owns the design, tooling costs, MOQs, lead times and how to protect your IP when manufacturing in China.
Updated 2026-09-04 · 6 min read
Part of OEM & Private Label.