Canada Corn Act 1843
The Canada Corn Act was passed in 1843 by the British Parliament and allowed Canadian grains (then referred to as corn) to enter the British market at reduced duties. The act was repealed in 1846. History Origins British passage of the Importation Act 1815 – the Corn Law – impacted the market for Canadian grains by restricting their importation into Britain, despite the fact Canada was part of the British Empire. Enactment The 1843 act was enacted to provide some relief to grain farmers in Upper Canada, by reducing the duty of Canada wheat imported into Britain to (a nominal) 1 shilling a quarter. The reduced tariff led to increasingly profitable shipping through the St. Lawrence route. To attract business for shipping businesses in the United States, the American government responded by allowing Canadian grain bound for Britain to pass through the Erie Canal without import duties. The Act allowed for the importation to the UK of Canadian grain, be it processed or not. Accordingly, a trade sprung up in American grain, shipped to Canada for milling, and then on to the UK. This impetus caused a boom in the Canadian flour-milling industry. Repeal After a short time, the advantages