CBAM (carbon border ajustment mechanism)

Question 1

• “Council of the EU reaches agreement on carbon border adjustment mechanism” (Inside US trade, March 18 2022)

Answer 1

• Economic ministers from EU members on Tuesday reached an agreement on a general approaches to a CBAM still under discussion by the block’s parliament.
• EU commission last July released a proposal for CBAM
• Parliament will vote on the proposal on May 11. After that vote, the Council and Parliament negotiate a final agreement.

Question 2

• 「欧州委員会による炭素国境調整措置の提案について」（2021年7月）
• 環境省
• https://www.env.go.jp/council/06earth/17sankou3.pdf

Answer 2

• 2021年7月、欧州委員会は「Fit for 55」を発表。その一環としてCBAMを提案
• 対象部門： セメント、電気、肥料、鉄鋼、アルミニウム
• 申告者（輸入者）は、CBAM当局からCBAM証書（certificates）を購入。毎年5月31日までに申告
• 申告者は、原産地国で支払われた炭素価格に応じ、証書の償却量の削減を請求可能
• 2026年1月から本格適用（2023年1月から2025年12月まで移行期間）。

Question 3

• “A European carbon border tax: much pain, little gain” (March 2020)
• Bruegel / Ben McWilliams, Georg Zachmann
• https://www.bruegel.org/2020/03/a-european-carbon-border-tax-much-pain-little-gain/

Answer 3

• CBAM is highly complex and politically risky approaches, and mainly symbolic but more easily implementable solutions
• potentially lead to lobbying and the temptation for ‘cascading protectionism’
• CBAM can be a substantial non-tariff barrier
• UNFCC rests on the principal of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”

Question 4

• “Summary For Decision Makers Four Guiding Principles For CBAM Design And Implementation”
• Green Trade Network

Answer 4

• Principle 1: The EU CBAM must be non-protectionist and WTO compliant
• Principle 2: The EU CBAM must strengthen climate action
• Principle 3: The EU CBAM must ensure environmental integrity and be built upon transparent governance and robust verification
• Principle 4: The EU CBAM must be carefully integrated in the EU’s broader climate diplomacy