Methuen treaty

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Methuen treaty, 1703. The long-standing trading links between England and Portugal were reinforced in 1662 by the marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza. When the War of the Spanish Succession broke out in 1701, the assistance of Portugal was essential. The political alliance was followed in December 1703 by a commercial treaty, negotiated by John Methuen. The Portuguese agreed to allow in English woollen goods while the English offered a preferential duty on Portuguese wines. The treaty stayed in force until 1836 and helped to replace consumption of French burgundy in England by port.

J. A. Cannon