Lower trade barriers rested on the idea that better access to resources would reduce causes of war. The criticism here is that resources can instead flow toward buyers able to pay the most. In that argument, countries with comparable levels of industrial and service development can compete more fairly even when their overall size differs. Resource-rich countries with weaker industrial and service sectors can consequently lose out. The concern is the effect of unequal productive capacity on apparently equal trading terms.
Notable Point · 36:32-37:51
Equal trade access could still favor stronger economies
A criticism of the trade principle asks how resource-rich countries with weaker industries could compete with stronger buyers.