Trade-In Subsidy Program Extended to 2011

BEIJING, Jun. 4 -- China has extended its household electrical appliance trade-in subsidy program to Dec 31, 2011, chinanews.com.cn reported today.

The program also will be enlarged to another 19 provinces and cities, according to a joint statement issued today by China's Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The subsidies were equal to 10 percent of the new electrical appliances' prices. People can get the subsidy for trading in home appliances like televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers. The government also grants additional subsides for transportation and disassembly.

Eventually, the program will become nationwide, according to the statement.

China launched the subsidy program from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010 in nine pilot provinces and cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, Fuzhou and Changsha, to spur national consumption.