Colonial trade policy in Brazil and diplomatic treaties between Portugal and England (1642-1661)

Abstract

The metropolitan exclusive, established during the Iberian Union, was kept after the Restoration of Portuguese independence in 1640. The new dynasty made a great effort to maintain the exclusive until the opening of the ports in 1808, even though in the early years after the Restoration Portugal made some concessions in treaties signed with England and the Netherlands. This article aims to trace the ideas that guided the debate on this issue during diplomatic negotiations, especially with England, as well as to analyze the terms of these treaties and also their results.