treaty port

American  

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 British  

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

---

Etymology

Origin of treaty port

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

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

Notwithstanding existing pledges of neutrality, the Imperialists were supplied with ships, stores, arms, and every munition of war they required, at Shanghae and all the treaty ports.

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

Rewards were offered for his capture in all the principal ports of the East, not 91 only by the English Government, but by the rich residents of Singapore, Hong Kong, and the treaty ports.

From Project Gutenberg