With billions in subsidies, the initiative aims to attract new consumers, but experts are divided on whether it will drive lasting change or just provide a short-term economic boost

China added more home appliances to the list of products that can be used in its consumer trade-in scheme and will offer subsidies for additional digital goods this year, in an effort to revive demand in the sluggish household sector.

The move comes as Beijing intensifies efforts to convince cautious households to spend as rising external uncertainties threaten exports’ ability to prop up economic growth.

Beijing has called out the European Union for imposing unfair trade barriers on Chinese companies, ending a monthslong investigation into the bloc’s efforts to protect its businesses from foreign subsidies.

China said Thursday that an investigation had found the European Union imposed unfair "trade and investment barriers" on Beijing, marking the latest salvo in long-running commercial tensions between the two economic powers.

China said an investigation had found the European Union imposed unfair "trade and investment barriers." China on Thursday said that the investigations conducted by the European Union into Chinese firms constituted "unfair trade and investment barriers.