Colonial America
Nonimportation Agreements
The American Revolution
Beginning with the unpopular Grenville reforms of the mid-1760s and continuing for a decade, the nonimportation agreement or boycott was the chief American means to gain the attention of faraway British policymakers. Colonial critics of revenue-raising tax measures realized that they had little clout in Parliament. In order to receive a meaningful hearing in London, the Americans needed support from an influential lobbying force; English merchants and manufacturers fit the bill. Many of those businessmen had strong trade ties with the colonies as well as strong relationships with members of Parliament. If trade were to decline sharply — as the case would be during a boycott — then English business interests would be harmed financially. It was hoped they would then prevail upon the government for a change in policy.
This form of economic retaliation was used in response to the Sugar Act (1764), but enjoyed its greatest success during the Stamp Act crisis (1765) and the upheaval following the Townsend Acts (1767-1770). A period of relative calm prevailed in the early 1770s, but came to an abrupt end with passage of the Coercive Acts (1774). The height of the nonimportation movement was reached with the First Continental Congress’s decision to create The Association, a body charged with overseeing the nonimportation, non-exportation and non-consumption of all British goods.Many American merchants were not enthusiastic boycott supporters. They depended on trade to make their livings and a disruption in those activities meant serious economic consequences. Reluctant merchants, however, were often brought into line by the persuasive tactics of the Sons of Liberty and other enforcers of colonial unity.
See chronology of the American Revolution.
Off-site search results for "Nonimportation Agreements"... SALT Agreements
... strategic offensive arms, following agreement on an ABM Treaty and on an Interim Agreement on certain measures with respect to the limitation of strategic offensive arms. The US Delegation believes that an objective of the follow-on ...
http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/text/abm-art.htm
International Agreements
... Brussels Conference of 1889-90 which was, perhaps only in part, an international agreement on the use of flags at sea ? It seems to have covered the problem of countries whose ships sailed in international waters, but didn't have a national flag.
http://fotw.vexillum.com/flags/xf-inta.html
Ship Boarding Agreements
... of carrying proliferation-related cargo, either one of the Parties to this agreement can request of the other to confirm the nationality of the ship in question and, if needed, authorize the boarding, search, and possible detention of the ...
http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c12386.htm
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