The Five First Opium War, The Sino-british Trade Analysis (1843-1858)

On the eve of the Opium War,Guangzhou was the only port in foreign trades. After that,the other four ports,namely,Shanghai,Ningbo,Xiamen and Fuzhou,were opened one by one,which broke the restriction of trading only in Guangzhou. Thus,Chinese foreign trade stepped into the period of five-port trading. Great changes happened in the relationship of Sino-Anglo trade. China lost its independence and unequal foreign trade relation occurred. Chinese import and export volumes increased more amazingly than that before five-port trading. Although British machine-made products gradually found its market in China,steady increase by a large margin didn't happen as expected in British export to China. In regular Sino- Anglo trade,Chinese export trade kept increasing and was in an advantageous position. In order to change this disadvantageous status in foreign trade,British continued to smuggle opium to China in larger volumes. Starting with Sino-Anglo trade during five-port trading,the author attempts to discuss the structure of commodities,related causes,characteristics and influences,and reveal the relationship between the trade and the development of social economy and politics,so as to summarize a few beneficial experiences and lessons and provide historical references for present reforming and opening,as well as the construction of socialist modernization.The thesis consists of three parts:The first part expounds the situation of Sino-Anglo trade before the period of five-port trading. It mainly discusses the state of early Sino-Anglo trade,the attitude of government of Tsing Dynasty to Sino-Anglo trade and related policies,the related regulations and influences of Nanjing treaty and its attachments to Sino-Anglo trade.The second part mainly analyses the structure of import and export products in Sino-Anglo trade during the period of five-trade ports. Firstly,the categories,the volumes,its annual changes and changing causes of British machine-made products to China are discussed. Secondly,it deals with the characteristics in Chinese export to British and the reasons of export trade volume's increasing constantly.The third part devotes to the characteristics,the qualities and its historical influences of Sino-Anglo trade during the period of five-port trading. According to the analysis of trade between China and British,several characteristics of Sino-Anglo trade are summed up. Based on that,the thesis comprehensively expounds its multiple influences to both China and British,especially to China.