EU Commission Confirms CBAM Definitive Period to Start Without Delay
EU Commission confirms CBAM definitive period to start without delay, US-EU Trade Deal Addresses CBAM Concerns, Taiwan confirms launch of its own CBAM for 2027.
At a Glance:
- EU Commission confirms CBAM definitive period to start without delay
- US-EU Trade Deal Addresses CBAM Concerns
- Taiwan confirms launch of its own CBAM for 2027
EU Commission confirms CBAM definitive period to start without delay
Following an urgent request from EUROMETAL to the Commission regarding rumours of a possible delay to the CBAM definitive period, the Director of DG Taxud confirmed that no delay is planned.
The EU CBAM definitive period is set to start on January 1st, 2026, marking the end of the transitional period and the start of the CBAM financial obligations, although the purchase of CBAM certificates won't begin until February May 2027.
US-EU Trade Deal Addresses CBAM Concerns
The US and EU announced a major trade framework agreement on August 21, 2025, that includes specific commitments to address American concerns about the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
The European Commission commits to "work to provide additional flexibilities in the CBAM implementation" beyond the recently agreed increase in the de minimis exception threshold. This comes in direct response to US complaints about how CBAM treats American small and medium-sized businesses.
Taking note of the US concerns related to treatment of US small and medium-sized businesses under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the European Commission, in addition to the recently agreed increase of the de minimis exception, commits to work to provide additional flexibilities in the CBAM implementation.
The CBAM provision is part of a broader trade deal that includes EU elimination of tariffs on US industrial goods, USD 750 billion in EU energy purchases from the US through 2028, and USD 600 billion in additional European investment in America. The US will cap tariffs on EU goods at 15% in return.
Taiwan confirms launch of its own CBAM for 2027
On July 24, 2025, Taiwan's Climate Change Administration released a press statement outlining progress on its upcoming CBAM. The announcement followed a press conference detailing ongoing and planned consultations with key industry associations—particularly in the steel and cement sectors—on regulated product categories, carbon emission values, and calculation methods.
The goal is to finalize regulations in the first half of 2026 and begin carbon emissions reporting for selected products in early 2027. By year-end 2025, Taiwan aims to complete draft rules on reporting requirements, product coverage, and emissions calculation and submission methods. The Taiwanese CBAM will draw from the EU's approach but include streamlined procedures. Reporting will apply to both importers and domestic producers, focusing first on high-emission sectors and products already subject to carbon fees. Taiwan continues to engage with the EU and UK to ensure its industries are treated fairly under international CBAM rules.
EU CBAM: 10 Common Misconceptions Importers Should Avoid
The EU CBAM transitional phase has been a crucial learning journey for many stakeholders — from importers and non-EU manufacturers to public authorities. However, it has also brought its fair share of misunderstandings about how the mechanism actually works. We've published a blog post diving into 10 common misconceptions among importers that surfaced during the transitional phase — breaking them down to help them avoid compliance risks and gain a clearer understanding of CBAM's core features before the definitive phase kicks in.