Zaštita tržišta carinskim barijerama je temeljno protivna principima CEFTA-e, a zagovornici slobodne trgovine kažu da se njima vjerovatnije ugrožavaju nego podupiru zemlje na dugoročnoj osnovi.
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.