An economic tie is a tie to everything. Where have you been the last two thousand years?
Tell that to the Japanese before WWII, we accounted for ~55% of their national exports, and ~37% of their imports when they bombed us. It had dropped off some during the depression, but we certainty were a major economic tie. We also provided a significant amount of metals and machinery to Japan right before they attacked us.
There are countless examples throughout history of major trading partners going to war.
Trade and Economic ties certainty play a role in diplomatic ties, but generally haven't prevented the two states from warring