Back in the 1980s people made beaucoup bucks smuggling Levis jeans into Europe. They could be had in the USA for $15 retail (less if you could get them wholesale, or steal them), but sold in France for example over $100 a pair.
A friend of mine still sends large packages of blue jeans to relatives in Spain, so I believe there is still a big price difference.
I would be willing to bet ever guy stationed in Germany in the 80s had a nice side hustle I. The 80s. I know my cousin did. He would stock up on 501s and take two or three suitcases back to base every time he came back for leave. I believe they were still American made back then.