The English Parliament had controlled colonial trades, imports and exports since the beginning. But the americans weren't represented in the Parliament, so this went against the Bill of Rights of 1689, which forbid the imposition of taxes without the Parliament's approval. The increasing imposition of taxes in the second half of 18th century harmed the colonies' trade and economy, paying for wars on the other side of the Atlantic that had very little to do with them. So, they denied to keep paying for taxes unless they got direct representation in the Parliament. With this, the inhabitants of the colonies were claiming their equality with the inhabitants of the metropolis. It eventually led to the American Revolution, since the English government refused to listen to the colonies' demands.
The notion of "no taxation without representation" tied the colonies together against a common enemy, setting the foundations of what it would become the United States of America.
