In the coming weeks Brussels will have to decide whether it wants to reopen the bitter and divisive debate on trade defence that has been a recurring feature of recent years. By launching a review of anti-dumping duties on shoes from China and Vietnam, Europe will be putting off a long overdue departure from an outdated vision of global trade. Prolonging the shelf-life of ill-conceived policies in the name of protecting European industry demonstrates a complete disregard for economic reality. Protectionism in the name of protection makes no sense at all.

The shoe industry is not the only sector under the European Union’s spotlight. However, the footwear case neatly illustrates the dilemma faced by all European companies doing business on a global scale.