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Reference.org
Cultural exception
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<p>Cultural exception is a political concept introduced by <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a> in <a href="/facts/General_Agreement_on_Tariffs_and_Trade/7HFfEsah">General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade</a> (GATT) negotiations in 1993 to treat culture differently from other commercial products. In other words, its purpose is to consider cultural goods and services as exceptions in international treaties and agreements especially with the <a href="/facts/World_Trade_Organization/p7hgb1lP">World Trade Organization</a> (WTO). Its goals are to point out that States are sovereign as far as limitation of culture free trade is concerned in order to protect and promote their artists and other elements of their culture. Concretely, it can be seen through protectionist measures limiting the diffusion of foreign artistic work (quotas) or through subsidies distributed according to the country's cultural policy. </p>