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IOTL, while there was significant importation of African slaves into Iberia(reaching ~10% of the population in Portugal), it was relatively marginal elsewhere, with England, France and the Netherlands banning the importation of slaves into the metropolitan territory. This makes a certain sense- Europe had a large population of poor whites willing(or coerced) to work for very little recompense, while the American colonies with their low population densities and suitability for the farming of cash crops were a far more profitable market for slave traders.

Let's say that wasn't the case- at some after the beginning of the Colombian Exchange, a deadly pandemic spreads through the world's trading networks leading to serious depopulation and upwards pressure on wages, much as the Black Death did. As a result of this the economic incentive to import slaves onto European territory will be far stronger, which in turn means that even countries which had banned the importation of slaves will face heavy lobbying from elites to reverse that ban.

A few problems with this notion that come to mind:
1)Even if slavery in Europe has become relatively more profitable, it might still be less profitable then slavery in the New World.
2)The pandemic will necessarily cull slaves on American plantations, thus increasing demand from the New World, as well as leading to depopulation in African regions exposed to trade with Europeans(thus reducing supply). Although, at the same time, depopulation in Europe and the relative leveling of wealth distribution should lead to a decline in demand for luxury imports from the American plantations.
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