The European car makers' association ACEA told me the rules would harm some manufacturers.

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However, Katie Kirby of the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) said it was important to keep the issues in context.

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Nonetheless, the dissenting voices of ACEA seem to be motivated by protectionist temptations, without due consideration of the overall benefits of market access.

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Car sales across Europe fell by 8.2% last year, according to the Brussels-based car industry group ACEA, while sales in France dropped nearly 14%.

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"Vehicle sales will not recover to pre-crisis levels in the near to mid-future, so the industry needs to adjust for the overcapacity that exists, " ACEA head Ivan Hodac said in November.

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