Final answer:
An unfavorable trade balance is when a country imports more than it exports, and it led to the Opium War when China imported opium from Britain.
Step-by-step explanation:
An unfavorable trade balance is when a country imports more than it exports, leading to economic imbalances. In the case of the Opium War, it started due to a trade deficit, with China importing opium from Britain. An unfavorable trade balance is when a country imports more than it exports, and it led to the Opium War when China imported opium from Britain.
The British East India Company grew opium in India and began smuggling it into China, despite its illegality. This led to a significant increase in opium addiction in China and a drain of Chinese silver reserves. When the Chinese authorities tried to stop the opium trade, the British waged two Opium Wars, resulting in China being forced to open its ports to foreign trade, including the trade in opium.