1860

Signature of a free trade treaty between France and the United Kingdom

The purpose of the treaty was to lower customs duties on commodities and on the majority of food products. While France halved its customs duties on manufactured goods, set at 30%, the United Kingdom lowered its tariffs on French wine. France’s foreign trade then boomed: imports and exports tripled both in volume and value terms between 1860 and 1880. This Franco-British rapprochement, wanted by Queen Victoria and Napoleon III, confirms the willingness of the two hereditary enemies to seek alliance and cooperation.