Answer:
The government of those countries are using a very common argument in favour of protectionism, and that is the infant industry argument.
They are saying that the only way a domestic industry can emerge, is by closing it off from foreign competition, until it becomes so strong that it can compete.
In the Ricardian Model, this view would be incorrect because the governments are not taking advatange of their countries comparative advantage. Under a Ricardian Model, no matter how poor the country is, if it specializes in the sectors where it has a comparative advantage, and imports the rest, it will make allow its citizens to consume more goods and services.
