Proposed relaxation of CBAM rules

The European Commission plans to significantly increase the threshold for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). European Commissioner for Climate and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra announced that the Commission will soon present a proposal to increase the current limit of €150 per shipment. This would mean exempting about 80 percent of the companies currently covered by CBAM.

Reduced administrative burden for small importers

According to the European Commission, less than 20 percent of companies account for more than 95 percent of embedded emissions in CBAM goods. By raising the threshold, the scheme continues to target the largest emitters, while smaller importers experience less administrative burden.

The Netherlands Emissions Authority (NEa) previously advocated raising the threshold. For importers who import only small quantities of CBAM goods, the administrative obligations are often disproportionately high. Moreover, these cases involve relatively low CO2 emissions, limiting the impact on climate goals.

Implications and further decision-making

Although the proposal has been positively received by companies and organizations such as the NEa, it is not yet final. Plans must be further developed and approved by member states before the new threshold actually comes into effect. The exact impact on importers will therefore depend on the final details of the scheme.

What does this mean for importers and the logistics industry?

At Van der Helm, we are closely following developments around CBAM. For companies trading internationally, it is essential to know how these changes can affect import procedures and costs. Through our expertise in customs matters and cross-border logistics, we help customers stay compliant and minimize administrative burdens.

Want to know more about how these CBAM changes affect your import process? Contact us for tailored advice.