Ministry of Economy is preparing a request to the European Commission to postpone CBAM for Ukraine – Kachka

Ministry of Economy is preparing a request to the European Commission to postpone CBAM for Ukraine – Kachka shutterstock
Hanna Velyka

Last summer, Ukrainian industry groups called on the authorities to ask the EU to apply the CBAM approach only to reporting for Ukraine during martial law and early reconstruction

The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is preparing an official appeal to the European Commission to start official negotiations on postponing the carbon-based import adjustment mechanism (CBAM) for Ukraine.

This was announced by Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka during the conference “Trade Wars: The Art of Defense,” the Odesa Journal reports.

According to the official, Ukraine plans to submit to the EU both a general request for an exception for the country and a separate one concerning electricity.

“The request is currently being prepared. We will be actively working in the coming months. We have been working with the European Commission on this issue for a long time, and we understand the process. Now we are moving to the active phase of work,” said Kachka.

As a reminder, the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) provides for additional fees for companies importing goods with a high carbon footprint into the EU. This mechanism covers producers of iron and steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, and electricity. The EU aims to level the playing field between European producers paying high carbon taxes and companies outside the EU.

Currently, CBAM is operating in a limited format, and the full implementation of the mechanism is expected to start on January 1, 2026. It will require importers to purchase CBAM carbon certificates, which will cover the difference in carbon emissions, to continue supplying goods to the EU.

Earlier, EcoPolitic cited expert Lyudmyla Tsyhanok's explanation of why it is vital for Ukraine to get a delay from CBAM. We also reported that, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the EU may postpone the full CBAM for Ukraine until 2027.

Related
Ukraine will make another attempt to ratify the Kigali Amendment: why it matters
Ukraine will make another attempt to ratify the Kigali Amendment: why it matters

Officials from the relevant agency have been preparing for the ratification of this document for several years now

Germany risks failing to meet its 2040 climate targets
Germany risks failing to meet its 2040 climate targets

It is estimated that average emissions will exceed their total annual emissions cap by approximately 60–100 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030

CBAM and the domestic carbon price: legal and financial pitfalls of the new EU regulation
CBAM and the domestic carbon price: legal and financial pitfalls of the new EU regulation

The proposed system creates significant obstacles for global supply chains

Europe is reducing its emissions at the expense of Asian countries – Visual Capitalist 
Europe is reducing its emissions at the expense of Asian countries – Visual Capitalist 

China remains the undisputed leader in terms of the actual volume of pollution it produces