Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation takes effect
- When
- 1899
- Where
- Japan
- Episodes
- 2
The Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation took effect on 17 July 1899, ending extraterritoriality in Japan. Signed in 1894, the agreement required a five-year delay before implementation, marking the end of unequal commercial status. British subjects became subject to Japanese law, and consular courts ceased jurisdiction, except for pending cases.
Episodes
- Treaty Coming Into Force
The Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation came into force on 17 July 1899, ending extraterritoriality.
- Cessation of Consular Jurisdiction
British consular courts in Japan ceased jurisdiction on the effective date, except for pending cases.
Background and detail
Implementation. The treaty came into force on 17 July 1899. Upon this date, British subjects in Japan became subject to Japanese laws. The jurisdiction of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan, the British Court for Japan, and consular courts in treaty ports ceased. Pending cases were allowed to continue.
Significance. The treaty marked the end of the system of extraterritoriality in Japan. It was a significant step in abrogating the 'Unequal Treaties' that implied subservience to western nations. The agreement was not terminated until 26 July 1941, outliving the newer Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
People involved
- John Wodehouse · Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
- Viscount Aoki Shūzō · Minister Plenipotentiary
Sources
- Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-04
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.