Editing Mercantilism (section)

===France===
{{main|Colbertism}}
[[File:Jean-Baptiste Colbert.jpg|thumb|French finance minister and mercantilist [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]] served for over 20 years.|upright]]

Mercantilism arose in France in the early 16th century soon after the monarchy had become the dominant force in French politics. In 1539, an important decree banned the import of woolen goods from [[Spain]] and some parts of [[Flanders]]. The next year, a number of restrictions were imposed on the export of bullion.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kellenbenz|1976|p=29}}.</ref>

Over the rest of the 16th century, further protectionist measures were introduced. The height of French mercantilism is closely associated with [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]], finance minister for 22 years in the 17th century, to the extent that French mercantilism is sometimes called [[Colbertism]]. Under Colbert, the French government became deeply involved in the economy in order to increase exports. Protectionist policies were enacted that limited imports and favored exports. Industries were organized into guilds and monopolies, and production was regulated by the state through a series of more than one thousand directives outlining how different products should be produced.<ref name="E.N. Williams. pg. 177-83">{{Harvnb|Williams|1999|pp=177–183}}.</ref>

To encourage industry, foreign artisans and craftsmen were imported. Colbert also worked to decrease internal barriers to trade, reducing internal tariffs and building an extensive network of roads and canals. Colbert's policies were quite successful, and France's industrial output and the economy grew considerably during this period, as France became the dominant European power. He was less successful in turning France into a major trading power, and Britain and the Dutch Republic remained supreme in this field.<ref name="E.N. Williams. pg. 177-83"/>