What was the primary reason why France wanted to regulate other countries' trade during the era of mercantilism?

• A. To increase its own wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports
• B. To reduce domestic production and encourage foreign investment
• C. To promote free trade and economic cooperation among nations
• D. To eliminate all tariffs and trade barriers for agricultural products

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of mercantilism, which was an economic theory dominant in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, emphasizing the accumulation of wealth through trade surplus.
2. Recognize that mercantilist policies aimed to increase a nation's wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports, thereby accumulating precious metals like gold and silver.
3. Identify that regulating other countries' trade was a strategy to control trade flows, ensuring that more goods were sold abroad than bought from foreign markets.
4. Note that this approach was not about promoting free trade or reducing domestic production, but rather about protecting and enhancing the nation's economic power.
5. Conclude that the primary reason France wanted to regulate trade was to increase its own wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports, consistent with mercantilist principles.