Due to the significant advances and the real threat of the Napoleonic troops, the Portuguese Royal Family, on November 28, 1807, left the Portuguese country and embarked towards Brazil seeking refuge.
A few days later, on January 22, 1808, after a difficult journey, they landed in Salvador. In Brazilian lands, one of the first official acts of D. João VI was the signing of the Treaty of Opening of Ports to Friendly Nations.
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A signature of the royal charter which decreed the opening of ports to nations friendly to Portugal, was made on January 28, 1808. The economic treaty between Portugal and England made it possible for Brazil, as a colony of the country Portuguese, to establish commercial relations with other countries in Europe, as long as they were friends of the Portuguese.
Here, it is worth mentioning that this was not a decision made by chance. The European context of the period was a crucial influence. England was suffering from the Continental Blockade made by the French. Through it, the British were prevented from establishing any commercial relations with the countries under the control of
Portugal, which had a tradition of commercial relations with England, ended up breaking the blockade. As a consequence, the country was invaded by Napoleonic troops, which forced the Portuguese Crown to travel to Brazil. Here, they established the Empire's new administration.
With that resolution in effect, the economic relationship ceased to be exclusive with Portugal, to assume a broader character, mainly benefiting England, which at that time was the main ally of the country.
The end of the maritime blockade allowed Brazil, in addition to exporting its products, to receive inputs from other countries. The only raw material that could not be sold during the period was Pau-Brasil.
The transfer of the Portuguese Royal Family to Brazil, as well as these new relationships had great impacts on the country, which at that time underwent intense economic, social and cultural.
Between the main consequences of the Treaty of Opening of Ports to the Friendly Nations of Portugal, we can quote:
The latter was extremely important to expand the possibilities of trade between Brazil and other countries, other than the initial friendly nations. However, England once again came out on top. While for the British, the customs rate, that is, the tax paid on the entry of products, was 15%, for the others, it was 24%.
Some historians argue that this event was the beginning of Brazil's independence process, which would happen a few years later, in 1822.
