1778-February-06: France and the United States signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which included specific provisions regarding the French West Indies.

1778-February-06: France and the United States signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which included specific provisions regarding the French West Indies. The treaty guaranteed that France would keep open the existing free ports in the Caribbean for American merchant vessels. However, it did not grant Americans the most-favored-nation treatment in the colonies that they enjoyed in French European ports. A controversial clause originally exempted molasses from duties, but this was later removed due to opposition from Southern interests. Despite these limitations, the treaty officially integrated Saint-Domingue into the framework of the new Franco-American alliance.