International trade is most likely to occur whenever:

A) nations have an absolute advantage in the production of goods.
B) all of the trading nations are self-sufficient.
C) world production equals world consumption.
D) each of the trading nations gains from trade.
E) labor is cheaper abroad.

International trade is most likely to occur when trading nations gain from trade. This happens when each country specializes in producing goods they have a comparative advantage in and then trading those goods with other countries. This leads to increased efficiency and a larger overall output, benefiting all countries involved. Absolute advantage (A) and self-sufficiency (B) are not necessary conditions for international trade, and world production equals consumption (C) is not always achievable due to differences in demand and supply between countries. While cheaper labor abroad (E) can be a factor, it is not the only reason for international trade and may not always be enough to drive trade.