Multiple Chinese cities pause trade-in subsidies, sparking confusion amid 618 sales rush

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Several cities in China, including Zhenjiang and Yangzhou in Jiangsu province and Suzhou in Gansu province, have announced a temporary pause on trade-in subsidies for consumer goods, triggering widespread concern among consumers and industry watchers. Data from the Ministry of Commerce show that from January to May, the program helped drive more than RMB 1.1 trillion ($152 billion) in sales across five major product categories, with 175 million subsidy payouts issued. The recent pauses are largely due to regional subsidy funds being depleted ahead of schedule, particularly during the ongoing 618 shopping festival. Officials clarified that the pauses are due to system upgrades and delays in fund disbursement, not a termination of the program. Starting June 1, Jiangsu province will implement quota-based limits both online and offline, with activities continuing through the end of the year. Industry experts noted the gap is temporary, as second-round funding is already in place in some regions, with a third phase under development. [iThome, in Chinese]