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How did the Navigation Act of 1660 restrict trade in the American colonies?

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Map of North America in 1763 using color coding to show colonial territories: the 13 American colonies in red along the Atlantic coast, other British territory in orange across much of present-day Canada, Spanish territory in purple covering most of the southern and western regions, Russian territory in green in the northwest, and large areas of unclaimed land in white. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay are labeled. — Western colonialism North America during the colonial period.

The Navigation Act of 1660 was a cornerstone of British mercantilism, designed to integrate the American colonies into a self-sufficient imperial economy. It restricted colonial trade through two primary mechanisms:

Shipping Requirements: The act mandated that all goods transported in or out of England and its colonies must be carried on ships that were not only owned and manned by English or colonial subjects but also built within English territories.1
Enumerated Articles: The law introduced the practice of "enumerating" specific colonial products—most notably sugar, tobacco, and indigo—which were prohibited from being shipped directly to foreign markets. These goods could only be exported to England, Ireland, or other English colonies, ensuring the mother country maintained control over these valuable commodities.21

While these regulations aimed to consolidate imperial trade, they also fostered a culture of evasion among colonists who sought better prices in foreign ports. This tension between colonial economic interests and British trade policy eventually contributed to the unrest that led to the American Revolution.21