Under mercantilism, the price of goods that the colonists exported was often heavily regulated and limited by the British government. The British government wanted to ensure that the colonies were only exporting raw materials and not finished goods, which could compete with British-made products. This policy kept the prices of the exported goods low, while the prices of imported goods were high due to tariffs imposed by the British government. This created a trade imbalance that benefited Britain at the expense of the colonists.
In response to mercantilism, the colonists took several actions. They engaged in smuggling to evade British import and export duties and taxes, particularly on goods that were heavily regulated. They also organized boycotts and non-importation agreements to protest against British trade policies and pressure British merchants to lobby the government for change. The colonists also developed their own industries, such as shipbuilding, to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on British goods.
Ultimately, the colonists' frustration with British mercantilism was one of the factors that led to the American Revolution and the independence of the United States. The colonists' efforts to resist British trade policies and develop their own industries helped lay the groundwork for the emergence of a new nation that was not beholden to Britain's economic interests.