Italy and the United States have renewed their bilateral agreement to safeguard cultural heritage by extending import restrictions on certain archaeological materials from Italy. The renewed pact reaffirms nearly a quarter‑century of collaboration that has led to the recovery and repatriation of thousands of artifacts removed illegally from Italian soil.
Signed at the Museo dell’Arte Salvata in Rome by the Italian Minister of Culture and a senior U.S. diplomat, the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, museums, and cultural institutions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Under its terms, the U.S. will maintain strict import controls on designated classes of Italian archaeological materials – a move intended to curb illicit trade and deter looting of historically significant sites.
Since the partnership began in 2001, more than 4,900 works have been returned to Italy, including over 900 recovered in the last five years alone. The renewal signals a shared commitment to a transparent, lawful art‑market environment and recognizes cultural heritage as a global public good that demands international protection and responsibility.
For Italy, the agreement represents not just a legal instrument, but a reaffirmation of its role as guardian of a heritage that belongs to humanity at large. For the United States, it serves as a demonstration of respect toward global cultural patrimony and an acknowledgment that preserving history requires collaborative, cross-border action.
