航海法案（The Navigation Acts），又译作航海条例，是指1651年10月，克伦威尔领导的英吉利共和国议会通过的第一个保护英国本土航海贸易垄断的法案，以后该法案不断修改完善，为此还引发了与海上强国荷兰的战争（见英荷战争）。但是航海条例也限制了英国殖民地经济的发展，最后且成为美国独立战争的发生背景之一。(*美国独立战争的主要原因是法国-印第安战争[1754-1763]后期的美殖民地因当时经济和英国对其施展政治压力而产生的后果)。航海条约在1663,1673,1696被更改。原因是当时的英国政府想进一步防止非法商人向外(非英国本土的国家)出售未经加工的货物(当时是违反了"航海条例")。

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that restricted the use of foreign ships for trade between every country except Britain. This ended 200 years later. They reflected the policy of mercantilism, which sought to keep all the benefits of trade inside the Empire, and minimize the loss of gold and silver to foreigners. They prohibited the colonies from trading directly with the Netherlands, Spain, France, and their colonies. The original ordinance of 1651 was renewed at the Restoration by Acts of 1660, 1663, 1670, and 1673 subsequently subject to minor amendment. These Acts formed the basis for British overseas trade for nearly 200 years. Another way to define this is laws created by England to limit their colonies' trade with other countries. Additionally the Navigation Act restricted the employment of non-English sailors to a quarter of the crew on returning East India Company ships.