China increases scrutiny over rare earth magnets with new tracking system
中国启用新追踪系统加强对稀土磁体的监管

BEIJING, June 4 (Reuters) - China has introduced a tracking system for its rare earth magnet sector, three sources said, as its export restrictions on them begin to cut off customers around the world.
路透北京 6 月 4 日电 - 三位消息人士称，随着中国对稀土磁体的出口限制开始影响全球客户，该国已为其稀土磁体行业引入追踪系统。

The national tracking system, which went into effect last week, requires producers to submit extra information online including trading volumes and client names, said two sources familiar with the matter and another briefed by those involved.
两位知情人士及另一位获悉内情的消息人士表示，这项全国性追踪系统已于上周生效，要求生产商在线提交包括交易量和客户名称在内的额外信息。

The world's largest rare earth magnet supplier and exporter, China in early April imposed export restrictions on seven medium to heavy rare earth elements and several magnets, requiring exporters to obtain licences.
作为全球最大的稀土磁体供应商和出口国，中国于 4 月初对七种中重稀土元素及多种磁体实施出口限制，要求出口商必须获得许可证。

Delays getting approvals have upended supply chains for automakers, semiconductor companies and others, with global automakers already beginning to stop some production lines as reserves run out.
审批延迟已打乱汽车制造商、半导体企业等行业的供应链，随着储备耗尽，全球汽车制造商已开始暂停部分生产线。

Beijing unveiled high-level plans to establish an information tracing system for rare earth products last June, but there had been no mention of it again until last week, according to the source briefed on the matter.
据知情人士透露，北京去年 6 月就公布了建立稀土产品信息追溯体系的高层规划，但直到上周才再次提及该计划。

The added level of scrutiny suggests that China's export controls on rare earths and the associated magnets - where it has a near-monopoly on production - could become a permanent feature for the products.
这一额外监管措施表明，中国对稀土及相关磁体（中国在这些产品的生产上近乎垄断）的出口管制可能成为长期政策。

There have been hopes in the U.S. and elsewhere that this would be removed as part of a trade truce agreed in Geneva last month.
美国及其他国家曾希望该措施能作为上月日内瓦达成的贸易休战协议的一部分被取消。

In previous cases where China has imposed export curbs on metals, exports have tended to slowly rebound after the imposition of restrictions as exporters apply and receive licences.
在中国过去实施金属出口管制的案例中，随着出口商申请并获得许可证，出口量往往会在限制措施实施后逐步回升。

"Our current hypothesis is that China would continue its export control mechanism on rare earths, as its an ace card for China to hold," said Tim Zhang, founder of Singapore-based Edge Research.
"我们目前的推测是，中国将继续维持稀土出口管控机制，因为这是中国掌握的一张王牌，"新加坡 Edge Research 创始人 Tim Zhang 表示。

Beijing's long-term target is to track the whole rare earth production chain, not just magnets, strengthen its control over the sector, and crackdown on smuggling, illegal mining and tax evasion, according to a fourth source who was also briefed on the matter.
据第四位知情人士透露，北京方面的长期目标是追踪整个稀土生产链（不仅限于磁铁），以加强对该行业的管控，并打击走私、非法采矿和逃税行为。该人士同样听取了相关情况通报。