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 barijerama suštinski je suprotna principima na kojima je zasnovana CEFTA, a zagovornici slobodne trgovine kažu da će ona, dugoročno gledano, pre naškoditi nego pomoći zemljama.