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July 29

U.S. and Japan Sign Harris Treaty to Increase Trade Between the Two Countries (1858)


On July 29, 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, otherwise known as the Harris Treaty, to increase trade between the two countries.

For over 200 years, from the time European explorers first “discovered” Japan in the mid 1600s, until the mid 1800s, the Japanese remained largely an isolated and mysterious country. Japan closed all its ports to foreigners, except for a few Dutch and Chinese traders. However, the United States and other countries wanted to open trade with Japan for raw materials, supplies, and other commodities.

After many years of unsuccessful attempts to open trade with Japan by the U.S., the U.S. sent Navy Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in 1852 to create a trade agreement with Japan. Perry was met with great hostility, but he threatened Japan with his war ships if it would not listen to his requests. Japan finally let Perry into the country and the two countries eventually signed the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854. However, while Perry secured fuel, protection, and other necessities for U.S. ships, he left the matter of trading rights to the other U.S. envoy, Townsend Harris.

Townsend Harris, the first U.S. Ambassador to Japan, arrived in Japan in 1856 to negotiate a trade agreement. Japan attempted to stall negotiations with Harris. However, after two years of struggle, Harris finally persisted in getting the Japanese to agree with many of the U.S.’s demand.

On this day, July 29, 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, commonly called the Harris Treaty, in Shimoda, Japan. The Treaty opened five ports in Japan to trade with the U.S., including Edo (present-day Tokyo). The Treaty also exempted U.S. citizens living in Japanese ports from Japanese law, guaranteed them religious freedom, set up a tariff agreement between the two countries, and granted certain rights to foreign missionaries and teachers.

Today, the Harris Treaty and Treaty of Kanagawa act as the foundation for trade between the U.S. and Japan – which also led, in many respects, to opening up trade between the U.S. and China.