BRICS condemns EU carbon border tax as punitive and protectionist

Published Aug 19, 11:26 AM UTC

The BRICS group of emerging economies, including India, China, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil, has intensified its criticism of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), labeling it as 'unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist'. The statement followed a meeting of BRICS environment ministers on 18 August 2026. The EU's carbon levy, effective since December 2025, requires importers to pay a carbon price equivalent to that paid by European producers under the EU Emissions Trading System. BRICS nations argue that CBAM increases costs for their steel and aluminium industries and diverts resources from climate action in developing countries. Despite this opposition, India and Brazil have recently agreed trade deals with the EU, while talks with South Africa continue. The BRICS group, which expanded its membership in 2024, has been a consistent critic of the levy but has struggled to act as a cohesive bloc on trade regulation.