Critics of the automotive directive are still trying to derail the bill and they’re using Europe as a peg: A number of local auto industry players (cough, importers) are suggesting that discussions on the automotive directive — which would give tax breaks to local manufacturers and protect them against unfair advantages now enjoyed by EU, Turkish and Moroccan imports — should be postponed until the government and industry players can reach consensus over its clauses and to “avoid any squabbles” with European car manufacturers, who had expressed their distaste for the directive, Al Mal says. The automotive directive is currently before the House of Representatives’ Industry Committee and was on track to head to a plenary session vote by mid-March.