Protection of markets with customs barriers is fundamentally contrary to the principles behind CEFTA, and free-trade advocates say they are more likely to harm than help countries in the long run.
Zaštita tržišta carinskim zaprekama krajnje je suprotna načelima CEFTA-e, a zagovornici slobodne trgovine kažu kako će one, dugoročno gledano, prije štetiti nego pomoći zemljama.