Assofermet calls for transitional measures under CBAM

The association points to the current unavailability of benchmarks

Italy’s Assofermet, representing distributors of scrap, raw materials, and steel products, is calling for transitional measures under CBAM.

The association has submitted its proposals to the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Production (MIMIT).

Assofermet requests that steel imports cleared through customs from January 1, 2026, be exempted from the obligation to purchase CBAM certificates, which will come into force on February 1, 2027, until the publication of benchmarks (default values).

The letter states that imports cleared through customs within five months of the publication of the benchmarks also require a similar exemption.

«At present, the final parameters are not yet available and are not expected to be published in the Official Journal of the EU until 2026. This information gap creates deep uncertainty about the real cost of CBAM, forcing importers to place orders “blindly” to avoid stock shortages and ensure continuity of supply to their customers (end users),» Assofermet said in a statement.

The association stressed that failure to implement these measures would pose serious risks to the economic stability of importers and their customers, as well as to the continuity of the EU production cycle, which could face potential disruptions in the event of a raw material shortage.

Assofermet believes that the corrective measures they propose are time-limited and acceptable. They do not affect the entry into force of the CBAM and are aimed solely at ensuring the fair and sustainable application of the mechanism in its initial phase.

At the end of September this year, the Eurometal association called on European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič to immediately clarify the rules of the Cross-Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

According to the association’s statement, it is unlikely that emission benchmarks, default values, and methodologies will be published before early 2026. This leaves buyers negotiating contracts for 2025/2026 without a legal basis.