In 1800, following the example of the Empress of China, the first American trading vessel to China, Astor traded furs, teas, and sandalwood with Canton in China, and greatly benefited from it.
Pada tahun 1800, mengikuti jejak Empress of China, kapal perdagangan amerika pertama ke Cina, Astor berdagang bulu, teh, sandalwood, di daerah Canton, Cina dan untung besar dari perdagangan tersebut.