treaty port

noun

, History/Historical.

1. any of the ports in China, Japan, or Korea through which trade with foreign countries was permitted by special treaty.

treaty port

noun

1. (in China, Japan, and Korea during the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th century) a city, esp a port, in which foreigners, esp Westerners, were allowed by treaty to conduct trade

Word History and Origins

Origin of treaty port¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

After all, the treaty port was born of a monstrous crime: it was the prize foreigners claimed after the Qing dynasty resisted Britain’s efforts to force opium down Chinese lungs.

From Economist

Even before it was ceded as a British treaty port in 1842, the city formerly known as Amoy had always buzzed with trade.

From Time

They could not rule themselves completely if large portions of them were under alien jurisdiction in the treaty ports.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, the condition upon which the neutrality of the treaty ports was proposed in the Foreign Secretary's despatch was not observed.

From Project Gutenberg

Chefoo or Chifu is the name of the treaty port, which is in fact the "European" settlement as distinguished from Yen Tai the native town.

From Project Gutenberg