Abstract
This chapter offers an historical economic analysis of Italy’s international trade relations: in particular, the worsening of trade relations with France that started in 1888 was one of the reasons for the gravity of the crisis that manifested itself in the following years and that was suffered above all in southern Italy. In the long run, however, it had the positive effect of increasing the multilaterality of Italy’s international relationships, including that with China. Italian foreign trade appears positive during this period (1861–1919). As reported by Zamagni (Dalla periferia al centro. La seconda rinascita economica dell’Italia 1861–1981. Il Mulino, Bologna, p. 156, 1990) between the years 1866–68 and 1913 the annual growth rate of imports was 3.1% and that of exports 2.7%. However, Italy’s share of world trade fell (from 3.1 to 2.6%) as it failed to keep pace with the expansion of international trade in other countries (Federico in Meridiana 4:163–196, 1988). As regards exports, those of raw materials (sulphur and metallic minerals) and traditional agricultural products (oil, wine, eggs and rice) declined. Only raw hemp and rawhides registered an increase in the category of unprocessed products. This result was certainly due to the process of industrialization initiated in the 1880–1913 period which, on the one hand, had transformed the productive sectors and, on the other, had expanded the internal demand for raw materials and foodstuffs. The scenario changed after 1923. One of the main features of this change was the more marked territorial diversification of Italian foreign trade which, while it gives a glimpse of German predominance, does not recreate the dependence of Italian trade on a single country that existed in the period up to 1887 (year of the agrarian crisis and of the law of 14 July 1887 imposing the agrarian tariff with a distinctly protectionist power (Toniolo, in Storia economica dell’Italia liberale 1850–1918. Il Mulino, Bologna, 1988) which led to the break with France).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in China, Letter from the Prince of Cariati, Peking 16 December 1889.
- 2.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in China, Peking 25 August 1890.
- 3.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in China, Peking 10 March 1890.
- 4.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in Shanghai , Shanghai 8 November 1889.
- 5.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in Shanghai , Shanghai 28 December 1890.
- 6.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory. A 1888–1891, Busta 22—Fascicolo 7, Letter from the Regent of the Consulate Ernesto Ghisi, Subject: experiment to export mineral water from Italy, Shanghai 11 September 1890.
- 7.
The Vetterli-Vitali Mod. 1870/87 was a revolving-sliding shutter rifle supplied to the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy .
- 8.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series P. 1891–1916, Pacco 422, Posizione 86/3 Arms sales in China, Letter from Dr. Eugenio Donegani to His Excellency Mr. Nitti, The Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Peking 7 November 1911.
- 9.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series P 1891–1916, Letter from His Excellency the Marquis of San Giuliano to Count Sforza , No. 747/207, Subject: possible sale of Italian sales.
- 10.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series P 1891–1916, Pacco 511, Purchase and construction of warships, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in China, No. 833/249, Letter from Livio Borghese to His Excellency Senator T. Tittoni, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peking 30 December 1907.
- 11.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory P 1891–1916, Pacco 511, Purchase and construction of warships, Legation of H.M. the King of Italy in China, No. 74/18, Letter from Livio Borghese to His Excellency Senator T. Tittoni, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peking 25 January 1908.
- 12.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Series Inventory A 1888–1891, Extract from a letter of the Prince of Cariati, Shanghai , 10 June 1888.
- 13.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Series Inventory P 1891–1916, Letter by His Excellency the Hon. Grinetti from the Royal legation in Tokyo, Subject: rumours of new paperwork for the concessions of San Mun , Tokyo 24 April 1902.
- 14.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Archive of Commerce 1924–1926, Classi 28–52, Italian Concession in Tientsin, Basic Regulation, pp. 3–6.
- 15.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Archive of Commerce 1924–1926, Classi 28–52, Italian Concession in Tientsin, Regulation for Cleanliness and hygiene, pp. 7–11.
- 16.
Historical Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Archive of Commerce, 1924–1926, Classi 28–52, Italian Concession in Tientsin, Tax table, pp. 17–18.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Strangio, D. (2020). Trade and Commerce. In: Italy-China Trade Relations. Studies in Economic History. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39084-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39084-6_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39083-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39084-6
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)