Pickering hurriedly began to negotiate, saying that this export volume was only a third of what it used to be. If it was really enforced, the American finances would collapse in a few months.
After two days of persistent bargaining, even Hamilton, one of the top five leaders of the United States, came to plead, and Lamert finally pretended to be overwhelmed and presented the real armistice terms sent from Paris:
"My bottom line—this is also the last meeting with you all before signing the agreement—is that the export of timber and tar is unrestricted, cotton exports to England should not exceed 8 million pounds. The sale of wheat to England is prohibited. As for the 'private trade' of sugar, it must all be reported to the Louisiana authorities."
Both Pickering and Hamilton breathed a sigh of relief.
The United States' wheat export volume wasn't large, and it could completely shift to selling to the Caribbean Region, but the price would just be a bit lower.
