FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION IN THE LIBERAL SPAIN

Spain underwent a process of gradual liberalization during the XIXth century, although the evolution of trade policy was relatively untouched by it. There was a permanent controversy among prohibitionists, protectionists and liberals in the political arena. But when we focus on the implementation of trade policy, three stages can be clearly distinguished. Firstly, surprisingly, prohibitionism dominated the scene from the Trienio until the 1840s. Secondly, a mild version of liberalism triumphed in 1869. Finally, after the backlash of 1890-1892, protectionism governed trade policy until the outbreak of the Spanish civil war.