CBAM – Import from Switzerland to the EU only with CBAM certificates?

Anyone importing high-emitting goods into the EU will in future have to purchase CBAM certificates to offset the difference between the cost of CO₂ emissions in the country of production and the price of CO₂ certificates in the EU.

The European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is one of the cornerstones of the EU's "Fit for 55" package. This includes a series of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030.

By introducing CBAM, the EU aims to promote a more cautious approach to CO₂ emissions worldwide, but also to limit any economic disadvantages caused by "CO₂ leakage", i.e. the migration of industries to countries with less stringent CO₂ emission regulations.

Specifically, anyone importing high-emission goods into the EU will have to purchase CBAM certificates in the future to offset the difference between the cost of CO₂ emissions in the country of production and the price of CO₂ certificates in the EU.

There is one important exception: Swiss goods (origin) are exempted from CBAM regulation and thus also from CBAM certificates!

The legal basis was laid down in Regulation (EU) 2023/956. This was clarified on 17 August 2023 by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1773 for the transitional phase.2. (Adrian Peyer, more at lexology.com)