Agreements
The United States uses cultural property agreements with other countries to promote a clean U.S. art market and to assist other countries in protecting their cultural heritage. Agreements create import restrictions that stop stolen cultural property from entering the United States while encouraging the legal sharing of cultural property for scientific, cultural, and educational purposes so the U.S. public, museums, and researchers have expanded opportunities to appreciate the partner country’s history and culture.
Emergency Actions
In some cases, intense criminal activity or conflict prevent countries from entering into agreements. In those situations, the United States can take unilateral action to impose import restrictions on cultural property from that country.
The Process
Any country that is party to the UNESCO 1970 Convention on Cultural Property can request assistance. Under U.S. law, if certain conditions exist, the United States can either enter into an agreement or use emergency action to respond.
The Department of State negotiates bilateral agreements. The Department of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection publish import restrictions in the Federal Register.
Public Input
The Department of State values public input in the cultural property agreement and import restriction process. The presidentially appointed Cultural Property Advisory Committee (“the Committee”) reviews requests from other countries and provides advice to the Department. The public is invited to submit written and oral comments for consideration during Committee meetings.
Agreement Implementation
The United States works with partner governments to improve cultural property protection and promote the legal exchange of cultural property. Agreement Implementation activities support transparency, international professional networks, training and capacity building, site security, site and object inventories, public education and outreach, and community engagement.