Committee for Cultural Policy

In addition to submitting testimony regarding Chile's request for the Renewal of Import Restrictions, the Committee and Global Heritage Alliance also submitted testimony to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee on the Request for Renewal of Import Restrictions from the Kingdom of Morocco.

Morocco's push to renew its MOU with the U.S. under the Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA) raises concerns due to the lack of evidence supporting a looting crisis. The broad import restrictions imposed on Moroccan artifacts harm U.S. businesses, collectors, and institutions dealing with legally sourced items, with no proof of widespread illicit trafficking. Morocco has neglected key self-help measures, such as regulating metal detecting, which could effectively address looting issues. These actions conflict with CPIA’s intent, which requires evidence-based policies and targeted restrictions. It’s crucial to reassess the MOU renewal to ensure a more transparent, balanced approach that considers the interests of all stakeholders involved.

Read the full testimony by clicking the link below.

CCP & GHA Response to Morocco’s Request to Restrict U.S. Access to Antiquities and Ethnological Art UPDATE! The February 4, 2005 hearing on renewal of MOUs with Italy, Chile and Morocco and a new proposed MOU with Vietnam was cancelled on January 31! The State Department's Cultural Heritage Bureau stated that

The Committee for Cultural Policy has submitted written testimony to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee on the Request for Renewal of Import Restrictions from the Republic of Chile.

Chile is pushing for a renewal of its cultural property agreement with the U.S., but the evidence supporting this request is weak and lacking in crucial areas. There’s no solid proof of a looting crisis or a thriving U.S. market for Chilean antiquities, with major auction houses reporting zero sales of Chilean objects since 2015. Furthermore, Chile has failed to demonstrate adequate self-help measures to protect its cultural heritage, relying mostly on external assistance rather than fostering a national commitment to preserve its past. Despite this, Chile has not prioritized cultural exchange, with minimal efforts to share its rich heritage through exhibitions in the U.S. or elsewhere. Chile’s archaeological efforts, driven largely by infrastructure development and tourism, face significant challenges, including weak heritage protection, conflicts with indigenous communities, and the ongoing destruction of crucial sites like the Atacama Desert geoglyphs. Instead of continuing import restrictions, experts argue that the U.S. should focus on supporting archaeological efforts and public education in Chile, particularly among indigenous communities. The current proposal for restrictions overlooks the core issue—lack of action on the ground in Chile—and misdirects valuable resources in the U.S. toward a non-existent illegal market.

Read the Committee's full testimony by clicking the link below.

Chile Requests Five Year Extension of U.S. Import Restrictions UPDATE! The February 4, 2005 hearing on renewal of MOUs with Italy, Chile and Morocco and a new proposed MOU with Vietnam was cancelled on January 31! The State Department's Cultural Heritage Bureau stated that

In 2019, President Trump proposed purchasing Greenland, citing strategic and economic reasons—but the U.S. fascination with the island goes far beyond politics. The idea is rooted in a blend of Viking mythology, historical myths, and outright frauds, particularly the false connection between Norse exploration and the discovery of America. While Greenland has been a part of Denmark since 1721, its growing push for independence highlights the complexities of Greenlandic-American relations. The story behind the U.S. interest in Greenland is far more tangled than it first appears—full of myths, hoaxes, and the reshaping of cultural identities. It's a history worth revisiting in 2025.

Click below to read more.

Photo: Christian Krohg (1852-1925), Leiv Eirikson discovering America, 1893, Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo, Norway, public domain.

Buying Greenland: Strategic Interests, Viking Myths, Archaeology and Project Iceworm Plans to purchase Greenland have intrigued U.S. leaders for centuries. As originally proposed by President Trump in 2019, its purchase was supposedly driven by strategic and economic interests – but earlier attempts were primarily motivated

Have you heard of HR 7865? The bill seeks to "facilitate the lawful trade and collecting of numismatic materials." While the bill was introduced last spring, it has since picked up five cosponsors.

You can read more about the bill here https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7865/all-info and here: https://accguild.org/news/13422115

Relatedly, Peter Tompa writes about the possible renewal of the our current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Italy, and how the extension may be used to impose new import restrictions on Roman Imperial Coins. Read more here:

https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2024/12/please-help-save-roman-imperial-coin.html

Please Help Save Roman Imperial Coin Collecting (and Express Concerns about Current or Possible Restrictions on Other Coins from Chile, Italy, Morocco, and Vietnam) The State Department has announced that Italy has requested a renewal of its current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Stat...