Tech Crackdown Is a Cloud Over China Economy, Ex-WTO Chief Says

China’s regulatory efforts to increase control over its technology sector adds another “decoupling engine” to the global economy, which could weigh on Chinese growth prospects, the former head of the World Trade Organization said.

Pascal Lamy, who has long-warned of the negative effects of U.S. efforts to “decouple” elements of its economy from China’s, said political trends in China could stall the country’s push to increase exports of digital services, potentially trapping it in “middle income” status.