Eurometal calls on the EC to clarify CBAM rules without delay

Eurometal, an association representing European distributors of steel, pipes, and steel products, has called on European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič to immediately clarify the rules of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

According to the association’s statement, it is unlikely that the emission benchmarks, default values, and methodologies will be published before early 2026. This leaves buyers negotiating contracts for 2025/2026 without a legal basis, creating risks of speculation, contractual disputes, and distortions in the single market.

In a letter to the EC, Eurometal called on Brussels to:

• publish preliminary benchmarks and values immediately,
• clarify the scope of downstream products,
• speed up communication on the export adjustment mechanism,
• consider the possibility of advance payment or advance collection at the border to stabilize markets,
• publish a pan-European statement to reassure stakeholders before the final texts are adopted.

It should be recalled that on September 10, the European Parliament finally approved the simplification of the cross-border carbon adjustment mechanism. In particular, this involves setting a new minimum threshold of 50 tons of imports per year, which will exempt 90% of importers (mainly small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals) from the CBAM carbon tax. Import rules that remain under the mechanism have also been simplified, for example, regarding the authorization process, emissions calculation, verification rules, and financial liability of authorized CBAM declarants.