EC’s misgivings on the Automotive Directive gets the attention of foreign trade journals: The Trade Ministry's hiring of a German consultant to study the Automotive Directive is but a means to appease the European Commission (EC), Tires and Parts says. The European Commission had been heavily critical of the legislation, saying that its ultimate goal is “forced localization.” The EC had basically named it as an obstacle to trade in its Trade and Investment Barriers report (pdf). EC sources tell WardsAuto the EU exported nearly 49,000 cars worth EUR 846 mn to Egypt in 2016. “The draft law, if adopted, has the potential to significantly affect these trade flows,” an official warns.