Tariffs: The Impact of Trade Wars on Art and Culture

U.S.-China trade tension characterized 2019 with tariffs imposed by both countries on a wide range of products. In August 2019, the U.S. published a list of items worth $300 billion of Chinese imports subject to tariffs. Among these items were arts and antiques comprising lithographs, prints, drawings, paintings, engraving, and sculptures that are more than 100 years old. Many U.S. dealers and curators have expressed concern arguing that the tariffs are counterproductive and would hurt the U.S., not China. Although these tariffs may eventually be lifted as part of phase one of the U.S.-China trade deal, they have created much uncertainty in the arts world. How will this impact the art world in the U.S.? Organized on the occasion of the inaugural Asia Society Triennial, join the conversation with a group of experts to understand the future of art trade.

Wendy Cutler joined the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) as Vice President and Managing Director of the Washington D.C. office in November 2015. She most recently served as the Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she was responsible for negotiating a range of trade agreements with counties.

Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang (moderator) is the Executive Chair of the Asia Society Triennial, as well as Chair of its Global Council for Asian Arts & Culture. A Cambridge, UPenn, Stanford trained archaeologist and art historian, Dr. Hsu-Tang was an advisor to UNESCO and the United States President’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Property from 2004 to 2014.

James Lally was a director of Chinese works of art at Sotheby’s in New York and Hong Kong from 1970, and in 1983 he was named president of Sotheby’s in North America. In 1986 he founded J. J. Lally & Co. He is acknowledged as one of America’s preeminent experts on Chinese works of art and the international market for Chinese art.

Amanda Rottermund is an Associate in the Art Law Group at Withersworldwide. She has focused on art law from the beginning of her legal career, advising on many groundbreaking developments that are changing the landscape of the art market. Her work includes dealing with purchases, sales, loans, consignments and charitable giving of works of art. She is the Secretary of the New York City Bar Association Art Law Committee.











When: Tue., Mar. 10, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Ave.
212-288-6400
Price: Free; Registration required
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U.S.-China trade tension characterized 2019 with tariffs imposed by both countries on a wide range of products. In August 2019, the U.S. published a list of items worth $300 billion of Chinese imports subject to tariffs. Among these items were arts and antiques comprising lithographs, prints, drawings, paintings, engraving, and sculptures that are more than 100 years old. Many U.S. dealers and curators have expressed concern arguing that the tariffs are counterproductive and would hurt the U.S., not China. Although these tariffs may eventually be lifted as part of phase one of the U.S.-China trade deal, they have created much uncertainty in the arts world. How will this impact the art world in the U.S.? Organized on the occasion of the inaugural Asia Society Triennial, join the conversation with a group of experts to understand the future of art trade.

Wendy Cutler joined the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) as Vice President and Managing Director of the Washington D.C. office in November 2015. She most recently served as the Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she was responsible for negotiating a range of trade agreements with counties.

Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang (moderator) is the Executive Chair of the Asia Society Triennial, as well as Chair of its Global Council for Asian Arts & Culture. A Cambridge, UPenn, Stanford trained archaeologist and art historian, Dr. Hsu-Tang was an advisor to UNESCO and the United States President’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Property from 2004 to 2014.

James Lally was a director of Chinese works of art at Sotheby’s in New York and Hong Kong from 1970, and in 1983 he was named president of Sotheby’s in North America. In 1986 he founded J. J. Lally & Co. He is acknowledged as one of America’s preeminent experts on Chinese works of art and the international market for Chinese art.

Amanda Rottermund is an Associate in the Art Law Group at Withersworldwide. She has focused on art law from the beginning of her legal career, advising on many groundbreaking developments that are changing the landscape of the art market. Her work includes dealing with purchases, sales, loans, consignments and charitable giving of works of art. She is the Secretary of the New York City Bar Association Art Law Committee.

Buy tickets/get more info now