In 1789 tariff legislation gave American built and owned vessels a preferred tariff. This presumably included vessels built and/or owned in the South. The "triangle trade" you described provided the South with a natural advantage, as the cotton bound for England was closer to southern ports than northern ones. Southern entrepreneurs could have loaded ships with cotton from Savannah to Liverpool, returned to New York with manufactured goods and wares, and completed their "triangle" with northern domestic goods, some imports, and passengers.
Pea, you really should stop thinking about the Northern United States as being a foreign country. It would greatly help you overcome your historical myopia.
"In 1789 tariff legislation gave American built and owned vessels a preferred tariff. This presumably included vessels built and/or owned in the South."
I see that you did not fully read anything I sent you.
"Pea, you really should stop thinking about the Northern United States as being a foreign country. It would greatly help you overcome your historical myopia."
Most of what I post is commentary and data from the people of the time. If it reflects a sectional divergence, it was probably true at the time, wouldn't you think?