A Fact Sheet about U.S. Relations with Macau is available on the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs website: U.S. Relations With Macau

History of U.S.-Macau Relations

Macau: Prior to 1845, there was no official U.S. presence in Macau. In 1836, however, the port was visited by Special Agent Edmund Roberts, who was on his way to Japan to attempt to negotiate a treaty. Roberts died in Macau on June 12, 1836.

In addition, on July 3, 1844, the first treaty between the United States and China was signed at the Kun Iam Temple in Macau. It is generally known as the Treaty of Wangxia (望廈條約) because the temple is in the Mong-Ha (Wangxia in Mandarin) section of Macau. The United States was represented by Caleb Cushing, and China by Guangdong and Guangxi Governor-General Qiying.

The official U.S. presence in Macau was established pursuant to the Commerce and Navigation Treaty between the U.S. and Portugal, signed August 26, 1840. Article 10 dealt with the establishment of consulates and with the rights and duties of consular personnel. Although no specific locations were mentioned, this treaty did allow for the U.S. to establish consular missions in all Portuguese territories.