By Noelle McElhatton
The global art market is preparing to defend itself against a renewed US threat to tax Chinese art imports, as part of President Trump’s trade war with China.
Last year, after arguing a strong case, the art trade succeeded in having Chinese art removed from the US government’s tariff list. However, Chinese works of art – defined as “exceeding 100 years, paintings, drawings and sculpture” – are again on a new list of $300bn-plus of imports drawn up by US trade authorities. They would be subject to a 25% tariff, regardless of the port of origin.