. . was mostly in luxury goods (which the monarchial capitalists would pay absurd prices for), including semi-perishable foods like ginger roots, olive oil, spices and the like - and of course slaves to supply the "service economy".

Trade in refrigerators and other major manufactured goods didn't come until the middle class was numerous enough and wealthy enough to make appliance manufacturing worthwhile. If the middle class dies out, so will most of the manufacturing.

With today's transportation we easily send French fies world-wide, along with the oil to fry them in. You've read too many 19th century politico-economic tomes and your mind is stuck in a factory mentality.