Assofermet, the Italian association representing companies in the steel, metals, scrap and hardware sectors, has submitted a formal request to the European Commission to resolve the growing uncertainty surrounding the application of the Carbon Border Mechanism (CBAM) regulation on steel and aluminum imports, reaffirming the need for transitional measures to protect the European supply chain. A new report dated December 5, 2025 highlights that the lack of precise parameters for calculating CBAM costs - benchmark and default values expected only in the first quarter of 2026 - is forcing operators and importers to plan purchases "blindly", which could potentially impact the entire continental manufacturing sector.
The lack of clarity, the association says, makes it impossible to estimate the actual cost of supplies planned for delivery to Assofermet warns that this the situation is creating significant market instability for trading, distribution, service centers and manufacturers who regularly purchase semi-finished and unprocessed steel and aluminum products from non-EU countries, with potential ripple effects throughout the European steel chain and export-oriented manufacturing industry.
To avoid such consequences, Assofermet is offering a temporary exemption from the obligation to purchase CBAM certificates for all refined steel and aluminum imports from 1 January 2026, within five months of publication of the final reference parameters. This request, already communicated to the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry (MAECI and MIMIT), aims to ensure a more balanced and sustainable initial phase of CBAM implementation, preventing distortions in procurement decisions and operational problems in the supply chain.
Assofermet also confirmed its willingness to cooperate with European and national institutions to ensure a gradual and effective transition to the new regulatory framework, maintaining a balance between the EU's environmental goals and the need to protect industrial competitiveness. The association stresses that without corrective measures, the current regulatory scenario risks creating further instability for Europe's manufacturing system, which is already under pressure from energy costs and procurement constraints.
