Former WTO head Pascal Lamy on the EU’s China choice: get a rebalance, or go protectionist

Pascal Lamy served two consecutive terms as director general of the World Trade Organization from 2005 to 2013. Before that, he spent decades in various French government roles, contributing to the building of the European Union. He was chief of staff to European Commission president Jacques Delors from 1985 to 1994, and European trade commissioner from 1999 to 2004.

Here, he discusses Europe’s trade tensions with China, the continent’s growth potential problem and the WTO’s need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.

This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here.

In France, many have expressed doubts about the future of free trade. Former finance minister Eric Lombard said last year that free trade is dead, killed by the US and China. Do you agree?