The Cultural Heritage Center website carries news about a proposed renewal of import restrictions on Chinese cultural goods. CPAC's public session will take place on May 14th.
The Federal Register notice formally announcing the renewal is to be released on April 1st.
Somehow that is fitting. I'm all for the Chinese populace collecting rather than destroying (remember the Cultural Revolution) artifacts like the bazillions of cash coins that are found all the time in China, but hope CPAC recognizes that current restrictions have done little but to provide Chinese auction houses and dealers with a leg up on their foreign (especially US) competition.
Is it about protecting the archaeological record or encouraging the continued movement of the trade in Chinese artifacts to China and other major market countries?