Question

Which were provisions of the Open Door policy? Check all that apply.

All foreign countries had to pay taxes equally.
Foreign countries with spheres of influence in China were exempt from taxes.
Only the Chinese government could collect tariffs on trade.
Countries with a sphere of influence should maintain free access to their ports.
The United States would oversee the continuance of the Open Door policy.

Answer 1

Correct answers:
- Only the Chinese government could collect tariffs on trade. (Yes — Hay’s notes insisted that China retain the right to collect tariffs so customs wouldn’t be used to give favored powers advantage.)
- Countries with a sphere of influence should maintain free access to their ports. (Yes — the Open Door demanded equal, non‑discriminatory access to Chinese ports and railways in any sphere.)

Incorrect:
- All foreign countries had to pay taxes equally. (Misleading. The policy called for equal commercial opportunity and non‑discriminatory treatment, and for China to collect uniform tariffs, but it did not literally say “foreign countries must pay taxes equally.”)
- Foreign countries with spheres of influence in China were exempt from taxes. (No — that would contradict the Open Door.)
- The United States would oversee the continuance of the Open Door policy. (No — the U.S. proposed and promoted the policy but did not claim formal authority to supervise its enforcement.)