Publications » Position papers » Joint statement by energy intensive sectors on CBAM
Joint statement by energy intensive sectors on CBAM
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CEMBUREAU, EUROFER, EUROMETAUX, EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM and FERTILIZERS EUROPE represent the four
industrial sectors proposed by the Commission to be included in the scope of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism (CBAM)– cement, steel, aluminium and fertilisers.
Properly addressing the issue of carbon leakage is critical to avoid a situation where the EU’s climate ambitions
lead to an overall increase in global emissions. Such an outcome would undermine the entire “Fit for 55 Package”,
a package intended to deliver EU’s climate targets and promote green industrial growth. While the European
products are already cleaner than our major global competitors, we still face unilateral carbon costs. As long as
competitors in third countries are not subject to equivalent carbon costs and constraints, carbon leakage remains
a major threat for the EU Green Deal, even more with the very high carbon price expected by 2030.
Having thoroughly analysed the measure, we focus on 4 key issues without which CBAM will not be effective in
preventing carbon-intensive imports nor promote comparable carbon pricing in third countries.
- Maintain the current carbon leakage framework until 2030 to test the CBAM, smoothen the impact on
value chains and trade flows and ensure EU industry focuses resource on investment;
- Include a solution for European exports;
- Strengthen and extend anti-circumvention provisions;
- Improve design parameters (e.g., default values) and governance for a water-tight CBAM.
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Brussels, 10 September 2024 – The Draghi Report thoroughly identifies the bottlenecks to both the EU industry's decarbonisation and competitiveness. The proposed recommendations for energy-intensive industries, including on energy, trade, carbon leakage, financing and lead markets, should be integrated into the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal and implemented with concrete measures as a matter of urgency. Alignment across different policies is crucial, and should be accompanied by sector-specific initiatives to enable the transition of each industry including steel, asks the European Steel Association.
Brussels, 05 September 2024 – The latest developments in the steel sector and across critical value chains are worrying signs of a steady deterioration, endangering the survival and the transition of steelmakers and their key manufacturing customers in Europe, such as automotive. A Clean Industrial Deal including swift and radical measures in EU industrial, energy and trade policies, is the last chance to ensure Europe’s prosperity and shield European industry from cheap imports driven by third countries’ unfair trade practices, overcapacity and lower climate ambition, urges the European Steel Association.
Brussels, 25 July 2024 – Major indicators in the European steel market show a steeper-than-expected downward trend, further impacting the outlook for this year and the next. Poor demand conditions, driven by ongoing factors such as high energy prices, persistent inflation, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, are exacerbated by a manufacturing crisis affecting the largest steel-using sectors, including construction and automotive. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, apparent steel consumption is further deteriorating. After a slump (-3.1%) in the first quarter of 2024, its rebound for the full year has been revised downwards (to +1.4% from +3.2%), as well as for 2025 (+4.1% from +5.6%). Similarly, output in steel-using sectors, after a decline in the first quarter (-1.9%), is projected to experience a deeper-than-expected recession (-1.6% from -1%). A recovery is anticipated only in 2025 (+2.3%). Steel imports continue to show historically high shares (27%).