Question

When was the Open Door Policy introduced?
A.1980
B. 1885
C. 1890
D. 1899

Answer 1

Hint: Open door policy, a set of principles announced by the United States of America, called for equal access to trade with China for all nations. Though, the policy was never ratified as a formal pact but later laid the foundation for the foreign policy of the USA in China.

Complete answer: During the 1800s, the major European powers had established their domination over trade with China. The United States of America (USA) did not have any influence against the exclusive trading rights possessed by Europeans. Therefore, the USA proposed that trade in China be open for all the nations in the world. This statement came to be known as the Open Door Policy of 1899. The policy also assured territorial integrity and administrative sovereignty of China. It was circulated among Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia by the U.S. Secretary of State John Hay. The following are the main provisions for the Open Door Policy.
-free access to ports and other spheres of interests for all great powers
-only the Chinese government should collect taxes in trade
-no state should be exempted from paying harbour or railroad charges
Thus, option (D) is the correct answer.

Note: It is important to note that Deng Xiaoping announced the Open Door Policy in 1978 for foreign companies to invest and establish in China. This policy led to the major economic transformation of modern-day China.