The European Union (EU) considers the Carbon Import Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as an important element of ensuring strategic autonomy, developed to prevent a possible carbon leakage in the implementation of the policy of transition to a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050. The CBAM acts as a mean of equalizing carbon emission charges between European producers and producers from other countries, which supply goods to the EU market, in order to prevent the relocation of high-greenhouse gas emissions businesses from the EU to jurisdictions with less strict climate requirements, as well as the growth of imports into the EU of products that will win competition due to lower climate costs compared to those borne by local businesses.
On October 1, 2023, the transition stage of the CBAM introduction began in the EU, which will last until the end of 2025. This mechanism covers those types of goods, the production of which leads to the most intensive greenhouse gas emissions:
- ferrous metals and products from them, agglomerated iron ores and concentrates;
- aluminum and products from it;
- fertilizers;
- clinker and cement;
- electricity;
- hydrogen.
