How involved in world trade was London , England at the time of Chaucer (1300's)?

Trade was immensely important for London during Chaucer's time. The crusades had opened trade routes and many western nations were taking advantage of it. Chaucer's father was a very wealthy wine merchant. Wine from France and Italy were just firing up, and trade was important to their success. Soon ships from England would be sailing the 7 Seas, and trade would be multiplied hundreds of times over compared to land trade.