Overview on China's Rare Earth Industry Restructuring and Regulation Reforms

中国稀土产业重组和规制改革研究综述（英文）

Rare earth elements （REEs） that are key to new technologies and green innovations are critical to life in modern societies. China continues to dominate the global REEs market despite several international trade disputes and market fluctuations. Pressured by an increasingly difficult situation, the Chinese government has been carrying out industry restructuring and has introduced regulatory reforms in recent years to promote the healthy develop- ment of the rare earth industry. This paper reviews the literature on the development of the rare earth industry and analyzes the reform policies, combining this with an analysis of relevant macroeconomic data. It discusses the current status of China＇s rare earth industry, the progress of industrial restructuring and the main problems the rare earth industry faces. The paper discusses the evolution of rare earth policies from that of ＂open production and open supply＂ to that of ＂limiting low quality development but encouraging export of high quality rare earths＂ and then to ＂integrating rare earth resources trade＂. Six key policies, including those for export quotas, export duties, environmental laws, resource utilization technology, industry consolidation and stockpiling, are discussed in detail. Policy suggestions based on this discussion are put forward concerning the treatment of small rare earth mines in China： firstly, robust efforts to prevent illegal mining must always be maintained; secondly, it is certain that the formation of large-scale conglomerates should be accelerated in the near future; thirdly, the management of key sections should be reinforced; fourthly, support for technological innovation and the development of the applications industry should continue; fifthly, specific rare earths laws and regulations should be greatly improved. The paper also puts forward some suggestions on revisions to improve mineral resources law： firstly, China must increase the market access threshold and suppress low-end excess production capacity; secondly, the new environmental protection verification must be developed for all rare earth enterprises; thirdly, minimum required indicators for the development and utilization of rare earths resources must be implemented in China. These recommendations can serve as a reference for efforts to promote the sustainable development of China＇s rare earth industry.

稀土元素(REEs)已经成为现代社会新技术和绿色创新应用不可缺少的重要原料。长期以来,中国在世界稀土市场上占据着主导地位,但其仍然面临一系列的国际贸易争端和不断变化的市场环境挑战。面对各种严峻的形势,中国政府一直采取各种产业重组和规制改革的措施,旨在促进稀土产业健康发展。本文系统整理和分析了稀土产业发展及其改革政策的相关文献,结合相关宏观数据分析,探讨了中国稀土产业现状、产业重组的进展及稀土产业存在的主要问题,论述了稀土政策从"放开生产和开放供应"到"限制低质量开发,鼓励高质量稀土出口"再到"整合稀土资源贸易"的演变历程,对出口配额、出口关税、环境法、资源利用技术、行业整合、资源储备等六种关键政策进行了具体分析。在此基础上,提出了针对中国小型稀土矿治理的政策建议,包括:继续保持打击稀土非法开采的高压势态、加快组建大型稀土企业集团、加强重点环节管理、支持技术创新和应用产业发展、完善相关法律法规等。同时,也提出了完善矿产资源法修订的有关建议,包括:提高稀土行业准入门槛、抑制低端产能过剩、严格稀土企业的环保核查、严格遵循"三率"最低指标要求,合理开发利用稀土资源。上述建议可为促进中国稀土行业可持续性发展提供借鉴与参考。