I've seen this question a few places, never really gotten the answer.
I am the twelth biggest nation in the world, but still I can't get and liqour needed to produce for example artillery? Even though I produce it.
If it is Liquor, I assume you don't have AHD and are just running Vanilla. I am sure you have heard this before but you really need A House Divided. It isn't just an expansion it is a MAJOR patch. In Vanilla pops purchase before the Government and they often drink all your liquor. In AHD the government purchases before pops. This has advantages and draw backs but in general this is good thing. I also believe that they tinkered with pop demands, especially liquor. If you don't get AHD get the PDM MOD for vanilla that will help too.