EUROMETAL White Paper: CBAM – The Definitive Phase

EUROMETAL has been publishing an annual white paper on topics of strategic relevance for steel distributors and the wider steel value chain.

This year, we have made it our mission to address the definitive phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), with the objective of clarifying recent regulatory updates and their concrete implications for steel importers and downstream operators. We are pleased to present our white paper entitled “CBAM – The Definitive Phase.”

The document provides a structured and comprehensive overview of the CBAM framework and is divided into the following chapters:

• The Background: the EU emissions trading
  • The polluter-pay principle
  • The European Emission Allowance scheme through the years
• CBAM: the next gear
• The mechanism
• The process of import and the CBAM
  • The CBAM Registry
  • The CBAM Calculation
  • Complying with the CBAM
• Some considerations on future steps
  • Downstream products
  • Anti-circumvention
  • Temporary Decarbonisation Fund
  • Article 27a: the Emergency Brake

With this white paper, EUROMETAL aims to shed light on the key challenges faced by the European steel industry and its distribution sector in the context of CBAM implementation. The document seeks to support companies in navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment, while highlighting practical compliance issues, cost implications and the potential impact on competitiveness across the steel value chain.

More broadly, the white paper underlines the need for a balanced and workable CBAM framework that effectively supports decarbonisation objectives without undermining supply security, market stability or the competitiveness of European downstream industries.

Publication date: 30.01.2026  Number of Pages: 20