Art Dealers Decry Administrative Hurdles in Cross-Border Trade
French art dealers are voicing their worries regarding the growing administrative challenges associated with the global art market, pointing to issues such as delays, expenses, and uncertainty. While they recognize the necessity for regulations, they contend that measures—from European import legislation to export documentation—have become hindrances. Julien Flak, a dealer specializing in African and Oceanic art, has opted to outsource compliance verification. Marie Wittmann, vice-president of the Syndicat des Négociants en Art (SNA), labels international transactions as an 'exploit.' The process of securing a Cultural Property Certificate (CBC) can extend from eight to ten months, far surpassing the intended four-month timeframe. The SNA advocates for digital solutions, standardization, and synchronization of French processing times with other European nations. Léage stresses the importance of having clear and consistent regulations.
Key facts
- French art dealers face administrative hurdles in international trade, including delays, costs, and unpredictability.
- Julien Flak, a dealer in African and Oceanic art, has outsourced some anti-money laundering checks to specialized firms.
- Marie Wittmann, antiquarian and vice-president of the Syndicat des Négociants en Art, says concluding an international sale can be an 'exploit'.
- Export certificates (CBC) can take 8-10 months in France, versus 30-60 days in London, according to Guillaume Léage.
- A headdress sold to a Mexican collector was held for nine months awaiting a CITES permit.
- A request to present an object at Brafa in January was filed in September but only approved in April.
- A Louis XIV desk with tortoiseshell bought in London was stuck in the UK for over six months.
- The new European import rules require documentation that is often impossible to provide, such as invoices from the 1950s.
- Uncertainty over US tariffs on antiquities is affecting buying decisions, with some clients asking to keep objects in Paris.
- The SNA is calling for digitalization, harmonization of thresholds, and alignment of French processing times with other European countries.
Entities
Artists
- Julien Flak
- Marie Wittmann
- Guillaume Léage
Institutions
- Syndicat des Négociants en Art (SNA)
- Brafa
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- France
- Paris
- London
- United Kingdom
- Mexico