Burgundy

• the MAIN FOCUS of English trade

• Antwerp, Burgundy was the most important cloth - trading center in Europe

• Both economies relied on each other - England produced the wool and weaved and burgundy dyed and finished it

• Despite burgundy’s importance, Henry placed a trade embargo on them from 1493-96 as Margret of Burgundy supported Perkin Warbeck

  • This nearly destroyed both economies - shows importance of politics over money (even though Henry was money obsessed)

Magnus Intercursus 1496 - signed between Henry and Phillip of Burgundy, ended the trade embargo. English Merchants could sells their goods in Burgundy without paying any customs or tolls. Helped with the export of wool, but Henry’s revenue didn’t increase.

Malus Intercursus 1506 - Phillip pressured to sign after he was shipwrecked off the coast of England. No duties on the sale of English cloth, and Phillip’s subjects to play extra duties.

• The treaty was considered so unfair to burgundians that its was never implemented.

France

• Navigation acts 1485 - goods travelling to England could only be carried on English ships

  • Good oppertunity to build up English navy

  • Means no smuggling on the French side

• Trading restrictions removed at start of reign, reintroduced after Brittany crisis

  • Then reduced again after treaty of Etaples 1492

  • Further reduced for English neutrality during Italian wars

Spain

• Treaty of Medina del Campo 1489 - fixed customs duties for both countries

• Henry never benefited from trade with the new world

Hanseatic League

• powerful trading coalition of German cities e.g. Hamburg, Danzig

• They had acquired trading privileges in Europe

  • Own legal system and private armies

• All the money in Germany and therfore so were the banks

• Favored the Yorkists because Richard III and Edward IV spent time in the cities building up a relationship.

• Henry tried to chip away at their privileges - wasn’t successful.

Other trading deals:

• 1486: commercial agreement with Brittany

• 1489: commercial friendship treaty with Portugal

• 1490: trade agreement with Florence = special english base in Pisa. Annoyed Venetian’s

• 1492: tariffs imposed on Venetian wine

• Sponsored trans-Atlantic voyages of John and Sebastian Carbon - Discovered Island in the new world