Which 1846 British law repealed the Corn Laws and marked a major shift toward free trade?

The Importation Act 1846 repealed Britain’s Corn Laws and marked a major shift toward free trade. The act was passed during Sir Robert Peel’s ministry and received royal assent on 26 June 1846.

The Corn Laws had restricted imports of foreign grain, especially when domestic prices fell below specified levels. Protection benefited many landowners but made bread and other food more expensive for consumers. The repeal followed years of political campaigning by the Anti-Corn Law League, led by Richard Cobden and John Bright.

The Irish Potato Famine also intensified pressure for cheaper imported food. Peel’s decision split the Conservative Party and contributed to the fall of his government. The act did not instantly create completely unrestricted trade, but it began a major liberalization of Britain’s commercial policy.

The Navigation Acts, a different group of laws, regulated shipping and colonial trade rather than grain imports.