On September 15, 2025, IAPN's Executive Director, Peter Tompa, testified before the US Cultural Property Advisory Committee about proposed new or renewed import restrictions for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Colombia, and Türkiye.
He indicated that IAPN opposed renewals for Afghanistan and Türkiye and takes no position on a MOU for Cameroon or a renewal for Colombia as long as coins are not included. He focused his comments on Afghanistan and Türkiye, stating that both renewals raised fundamental contradictions that could not be reconciled. He referenced the Taliban’s past destruction of historic statues and current blessing of a Chinese copper mine that will swallow up an important Buddhist site. He further stated that ongoing looting with the full knowledge of local warlords who have pledged allegiance to the Taliban cannot be considered an “emergency.” As for Türkiye, he noted that its government’s aggressive repatriation efforts abroad must be contrasted with its encouragement of treasure hunting on Jewish and Christian sites at home as well as its conversion of historic churches into mosques. He further stated that extensive “designated lists” that cover coins that circulated regionally and internationally only hurt legitimate trade. As a solution, he suggested that the Trump Administration apply the Administrative Procedure Act to the creation of designated lists and the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act to enforcement.
Peter Tompa’s oral statement can be found here:
https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2025/09/renewals-for-afghanistan-and-turkey.html
IAPN’s written comments on proposed renewal of emergency import restrictions for Afghanistan can be found here:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOS-2025-0203-0035
IAPN’s written comments on renewal with Colombia can be found here:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOS-2025-0203-0032
IAPN’s written comments on the renewal with Türkiye can be found here:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOS-2025-0203-0038
For a summary of the entire meeting, see https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2025/09/summary-of-cpac-meeting-to-discuss.html
