Customs tariffs in the ports of Seville and Cadiz at the end of the 17th century

The customs tariffs of the ports of Seville and Cadiz, the main platforms for trade with America, are marked by the struggle of the two cities for tax advantages. During the 17th century, many merchants and traders moved from Seville to Cadiz due to the facilities offered by the port of Cadiz, both in terms of navigation and customs measures and taxes. While Seville collected the almojarifazgo de Indias, the alcabala and the saca, in 1665 the merchants of Cadiz reduced the alcabala from 10% to 4% after buying the right to collect it from the King. In this way, the tax burden in the port of Seville was around 30%, while in Cadiz, as we have seen, only 4% was applied. The author reflects in the resource the different customs tariffs according to the product and represented in reales de vellón. The comparison of prices resulted in the Sevillian protest; in 1666 the monarch ordered the equalisation of the almojarifazgo taxes in all customs offices, a measure that was never implemented. Thus, during the last 20 years of the 17th century, the Customs landlords favoured and benefited the trade of Cadiz: a commercial growth that was reflected in the population, from 2,000/4,000 inhabitants in 1,600 to 40,000 in 1,700.

Collection: Statistics

Project: 2. Social and economic impact of technological revolutions in Europe., 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/Studia_Historica/article/view/shhmo2017392153184/17700

Resource type: Statistics

Format: Table

Source: Tapias Herrero, E. (2017). "Aspectos navales en el traslado de la Casa de Contratación", en Studia Historica, vol. 39, nº 2, p. 161.

Language: Spanish

Date: 2017

Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)

Abstract: Comparative table of customs prices in the ports of Seville and Cadiz. The resource shows the fiscal benefits of the latter city in line with a policy based on customs imbalance

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