Has the World Bank considered the question of whether or not GDP per capita is a relevant measure of the need for protectionism? The four-tier framework seems

Has the World Bank considered the question of whether or not GDP per capita is a relevant measure of the need for protectionism? The four-tier framework seems to address e.g. Bill Gates' comments about grouping China and the DRC, but it would still leave China in a tier below Western nations even though its ability to compete in global markets probably matches or surpasses many of them.