Bond-Blaine Treaty

In the 1880s, parts of Newfoundland's government and mercantile community felt that reciprocity with the US would solve growing economic problems by providing new markets for dried cod. In 1890 Robert Bond, a minister in the colonial government, negotiated an agreement with American Secretary of State James Blaine that stipulated lower duties on imports from Newfoundland in return for access by American fishermen to the colony's bait supplies. The treaty was not ratified by Britain because of objections from Canada, which believed any such agreement should be for all British North America, and feared American expansionism.

See also Bait Acts.