On January 14, 2019, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule [CBP Dec. 19-02) that amends the CBP regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain archaeological material from China. The restrictions, which were originally imposed by CBP Dec. 09-03 and last extended by CBP Dec. 14-02, are due to expire on January 14, 2019. The Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, has made the requisite determination for extending the import restrictions that previously existed and entering into a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China to reflect the extension of these import restrictions. The new MOU supersedes the existing agreement that became effective on January 14, 2009. Accordingly, these import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five years, and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this further extension through January 14, 2024. This document also contains the amended Designated List that describes the types of archaeological material to which the restrictions apply, including a new subcategory of glass objects from the Zhou period through the Tang period. Importation of such material from China continues to be restricted through that date unless the conditions set forth in 19 U.S.C. 2606 and 19 C.F.R. 12.104c are met.
