Overview

In the 17th century Parliament laid down a framework of protection for British trade which remained largely unchanged until the early 19th century

In the 19th century Parliament removed controls on British trade in order to attract global markets for Britain's rapidly expanding industries

Projects to expand some of Britain's most important docks in the 19th century were initiated by Parliament

The development of many of Britain's trading ports in the 18th century was authorised by individual Acts of Parliament

Parliament took drastic steps in the 18th century to ensure that markets for British-made goods were not threatened by those produced in the colonies

Parliament has played a central role in establishing Britain's modern trading relationships with Europe