A senior official in the outgoing administration on Thursday said Barack Obama was confronting the strongest “protectionist pressures” in 75 years and urged him to clarify his commitment to free trade.

“The incoming president will face more political pressure for protectionism than any other US chief executive since 1930,” said Christopher Padilla, undersecretary of commerce for international trade, at George Washington University on Thurday. “If our new president chooses to plant his flag firmly on the ground of openness, I will do everything in my power to help him.”