What was the main purpose of the Navigation Act that was passed in 1660?

The Navigation Act of 1660 was primarily designed to regulate trade within the English colonies, ensuring that goods produced in the colonies were traded in a manner that benefited England economically. By mandating that certain products, known as 'enumerated goods,' could only be exported to England or English territories, the act aimed to maximize British profit and maintain a favorable balance of trade. This was a part of a broader mercantilist policy aimed at controlling colonial commerce to enhance the economic power of England.

While options suggesting strengthening ties with Native Americans, allowing trade with any nation, or banning all foreign goods address various aspects of colonial commerce and trade policy, they do not capture the focused intention of the Navigation Act, which was to ensure that colonial trade was primarily conducted in a way that benefited England directly, aligning trade practices with the overall mercantile goals of the time.