[PeaRidge]

Only if foreign ships arrived with empty holes. Some tried ( see cobblestone streets in Charleston) but did not last long.

[DoodleDawg]

Only if foreign ships arrived with empty holes.

That seems to be the case when you compare the imports coming in, as indicated by tariffs collected, with the bales of cotton being exported. They arrived empty, loaded up, and went home.

[DiogenesLamp]

Only if foreign ships arrived with empty holes. Some tried ( see cobblestone streets in Charleston) but did not last long.

No one can successfully run a shipping business if the ships are required to arrive with empty holds, especially when their protected competition does not have to abide by such rules.

It is inherently a tilted playing field.