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 condemnation 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. BRICS nations argue that CBAM increases costs for their steel and aluminium industries and diverts resources from climate action in developing countries. They also demand more financial support for climate adaptation. Despite this opposition, India and Brazil have recently agreed trade deals with the EU, while EU-South Africa trade talks continue. BRICS has expanded its membership since 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.