A group of lawyers began to offer free consultancy in April for industries in the coastal province to help them cope with trade frictions.

Founded at end March, the group of 50 lawyers plans to visit 50 export-import demonstration sites and provide legal services in foreign trade, overseas investment, intellectual property, and mediation and arbitration.

As an export powerhouse, the province is home to businesses that face a growing number of trade frictions worldwide.

Last year alone, 90 investigations in 16 countries and regions including the United States, Turkey, India and the European Union were filed against Zhejiang companies involving goods worth more than $3.6 billion.

The case numbers accounted for 68 percent of the nation's total and 30 percent of its disputed goods value.

To cope with the trend, local trade associations have built 50 demonstration sites for early warning in foreign trade. The sites highlight vibrant industries in the province such as shoe making in Wenzhou, aquatic products in Zhoushan and software and hardware manufacturing in Jiaxing.

(Source: China Daily)