China Expands Trade-In Subsidies to Age-Friendly Goods, Up to 2,000 Yuan

What changed

China’s Ministry of Commerce says its consumer-goods trade-in program has driven more than 2 trillion yuan in related sales since the start of 2026 and reached more than 250 million person-times. Henan, Shanxi, Tianjin, Heilongjiang and Sichuan have now expanded local subsidies to products including smart locks, cleaning robots, cameras, water purifiers, hearing aids and other age-friendly equipment.

Most subsidies cover 15% of the final price after discounts, capped at 1,500 yuan per item. Shanxi offers up to 20% and 2,000 yuan for three categories, including monitoring radar, electric wheelchairs and hearing aids.

Why it matters

This is no longer just a program for replacing large household appliances. The provincial lists reach into the small machinery of daily life: a lock that can be controlled remotely, a robot vacuum, a water purifier, a sports camera or equipment designed to help older people live independently.

The details will matter as much as the headline discount. Most programs end on December 31, 2026, but the rules differ sharply:

• Henan and Sichuan use capped funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Tianjin issues monthly vouchers, which expire at the end of the month.
• Shanxi’s daily subsidy qualification expires the same day it is issued.
• Heilongjiang requires consumers to complete real-name authentication through UnionPay.
• Some products must meet first-level energy or water-efficiency standards, and some participating items may need a barcode or serial number.

The practical result is a patchwork market. A product eligible in one province may be excluded in another, while the same subsidy rate can operate under very different deadlines and redemption systems. Consumers will need to check the local category list and qualification rules before paying, especially because the available funds in Henan and Sichuan can run out.

For retailers and manufacturers, the expansion creates a wider set of products that can qualify for subsidised sales. But the reported figures do not show how much money each province has allocated or whether retailers will pass the full subsidy through as lower prices. The immediate opportunity is clear; the final saving at the checkout still depends on the local rules and the price after every other discount is removed.