1766-Nov.-01: The British Parliament’s Free Ports Act officially went into effect, strictly prohibiting the import of foreign manufactured goods into Dominic…

1766-Nov.-01: The British Parliament’s Free Ports Act officially went into effect, strictly prohibiting the import of foreign manufactured goods into Dominica and Jamaica. Any vessel found carrying such merchandise faced immediate confiscation of both the ship and its entire cargo. This protectionist measure aimed to ensure that British colonial markets remained exclusive outlets for metropolitan British industries. French colonial officials monitored these regulations closely to gauge the impact on regional smuggling and trade dynamics.