Priority directions in trade and customs policy of tsarism in Bessarabia in the first third of the 19th century

In this article, based on archival documents and the published, the changes that have occurred in Russian commercial legislation of Bessarabia after its annexation to the Russian Empire are analysed. These changes were conditioned by the following economic and political circumstances: 1. After the Congress of Vienna, Tsarism fearing of diplomatic isolation, tends to bind all the countries participating in the congress with such a system of treaties and agreements, which would be excluded infringement of equilibrium of forces in Europe. The seek of allies, wish to retain the rapport of forces established in Europe and its prestigious role, the fear to find itself in diplomatic isolation made Tsarism become adept of free trade policy. To achieve this goal, Tsarism is forced to move from prohibitive custom tariff of 1810 to the liberal tariffs of 1816 and 1819 which reflected the principle of free trade established at the Congress of Vienna. 2. The tendency to promote free trade policy was reflected directly and over Bessarabia. After adoption of the customs tariff of 31 March 1816, in Bessarabia are adopted new legislative acts, which were generalized in the Council of Ministers decision of 28 November 1816, the purpose of which was to reorient Bessarabian trade from traditional European markets to Russian internal market and to prepare the ground for the inclusion of Bessarabia in the economic and political system of Russian Empire. 3. But the decision to obey free trade policy taken at the Congress of Vienna by European countries wasn't observed. Russia has proved to be the only country that acceded to the principle of free trade. From the adoption of liberal custom tariff in 1819 beneficiated Prussia, Austria and Poland. The new tariff has aroused a negative reaction from the Russian bourgeoisie, which was unable to face free competition from European goods and merchants. The price was an important test for the younger Russian industry, which despite all efforts could not reset, because trade policy did not meet the country's interests. This was shown directly on development of external commerce, whose balance, for the first time during many years, becomes negative. 4. Finding itself in the situation when the Russian economy was no longer able to withstand the principles of free competition, tsarism was forced to switch custom policy from liberalism to protectionism. As a result, on February 27th 1822 a new customs tariff was adopted, this time prohibitive, which came into force on March 12th that year. The new rates would help stabilize the Russian economy. 5. With the adoption in 1822 of the prohibitive tariff the period of relative liberalism in tsarist trade policy ends. Government circles in St. Petersburg convinced that the Russian economy is not able to observe the principle of “free trade”, conducted partly in previous years. In its foreign custom and commercial policy tsarism is forced to return to the positions of protectionism, which would have to be maintained during the second quarter of the 19th century. The result of this policy is adoption of the “Regulation on trade with Bessarabia” on February 17th 1825.