Cultural relic repatriation hindered by high taxes

Beijing (CNS) -- High tariffs have become a major obstacle for overseas cultural relics flowing back into China. Experts at a cultural relic and artwork industrial symposium held on Monday agreed that the government should lower the tax burdens on returning cultural relics.

Auctions have become the main source of Chinese cultural relic backflows over the past 20 years, Zhang Yanhua, president at the China Association of Auctioneers (CAA) pointed out. More than 100,000 pieces of relics have been repatriated this way, and no less than 30 of these have been assessed as national treasures.

Renowned collector Ma Weidu said he bought many items for museum exhibits and collections, and the value-added taxes levied were extremely heavy; tariffs at Chinese customs were even higher for these cultural items than for luxury goods. He raised the point that these conditions will make it impossible for Beijing to realize its ambition to become a trade hub for international artwork.

Each returning relic is levied a 23 percent tariff, not to mention the expensive packaging and transportation costs involved, said Wang Yingchun, general manager of the Poly International Auction.

Zhang recommended that a duty free policy be applied to those with high cultural significance, and serious consideration must be given to the adjustment of value-added and business taxes on cultural relic imports.