Final answer:
To avoid paying taxes associated with the Navigation Acts, colonists and tradesmen resorted to smuggling. They would illegally import goods without paying the required taxes by using hidden compartments in ships and bribing customs officials. Some merchants in Boston sought help from other countries to evade British trade laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to avoid paying the taxes associated with the Navigation Acts, colonists and tradesmen resorted to smuggling. Smuggling involved illegally importing goods without paying the required taxes. They often used hidden compartments in ships and bribed customs officials to avoid detection. For example, some merchants in Boston sought help from the Dutch, French, and Spanish, who were willing to assist them in evading British trade laws.