In the December issue of the Assagenti Newsletter, Attorney Tommaso Pala analyzes Regulation (EU) No. 956/2023, subsequently amended by Regulation (EU) No. 2083/2025 (which entered into force on 20.10.2025), which established the so called “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism” (CBAM). The mechanism has the dual objective of reducing CO2 emissions and protecting the economy of EU countries. In essence, the system aims to ensure that goods imported into the EU reflect a cost of CO2 emissions equivalent to that borne by European producers.
At present, this measure applies to products from energy intensive sectors such as iron, steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers and hydrogen. As a result, all EU importers intending to import these materials from non EU countries, above a “minimum import threshold”, will have to deal with the application of this new tax, which will inevitably lead to higher prices for goods on their respective markets.
For the maritime sector, CBAM could lead to changes in trade flows and shipping routes, impact freight rates, and cause an increase in the cost of raw materials used by shipyards.
