18世纪中英檀香木贸易中的定价问题探析——以英国东印度公司档案为中心

An Exploration of the Pr icing Issues in the Sino-Br itish Sandalwood Trade in the 18th C entury——Centered on the East I ndia Company Records

檀香木是18世纪欧洲商人输入中国的重要商品之一。英、法、荷兰、丹麦等国东印度公司和散商运来大量的檀香木,推动了广州檀香木贸易的繁荣,但也引发了檀香木价格的波动。清朝官府和行商从各自的利益出发,试图垄断檀香木的定价,但都由于内外压力而失败。与此相反,英国东印度公司运用行政、外交、经济、军事等多种手段,不仅打破了价格垄断,而且排挤了竞争对手,逐渐获得了对商品定价的主导权。英国东印度公司的胜利表明,18世纪晚期英国已在广州贸易中占据主导地位,这不仅预示了广州体制的转变,也折射出英国全球战略的调整。

Sandalwood was one of the important commodities imported into China by European merchants in the 18th century.Country traders and East India companies from England,France,Netherland,and Denmark shipped large quantities of sandalwood to Canton,which promoted the prosperity of sandalwood trade in Canton market,meanwhile triggered fluctuations on its price.The Qing government and Hong merchants attempted to monopolize the price of sandalwood for their own interests,but both failed due to internal and external pressure.In contrast,the British East India Company not only broke the price monopoly,but also crowded out competitors and gradually gained dominance over the sandalwood pricing through many commercial strategies,combined with military action.The victory of the British East India Company demonstrated the dominance of Britain in the Canton trade in the late 18th century,which not only heralded the transformation of the Canton system,but also reflected the adjustment of the British global strategy.