How did Britain respond to the Continental System with the Orders in Council?

In response to Napoleon’s Continental System, which aimed to destroy British commerce, Great Britain issued a series of orders in council in November and December 1807. These regulations established a counterblockade against France and its allies.123

The orders mandated that any port closed to British trade was to be considered under blockade. Neutral vessels attempting to trade with these ports were required to stop at a British port to obtain a license and pay customs duties on their cargo. Failure to comply rendered ships and their goods subject to confiscation.1

By taxing neutral trade, Britain sought to favor its own merchants and ensure that European commerce was routed through British ports. This economic warfare placed neutral nations, particularly the United States, in a precarious position, as they faced the risk of seizure by the British at sea or by the French in port. These tensions eventually became a primary cause of the War of 1812.132