BRICS nations oppose EU carbon border tax, call it 'unilateral and protectionist'

BRICS nations, including India, China, Russia, South Africa and Brazil, on Tuesday opposed the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and similar trade barriers, calling them “unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures.” The stance was adopted in a joint ministerial statement (JMS) at the group's 12th environment ministers' meeting held in New Delhi under India's BRICS chairship 2026.

The statement expressed concern that such measures undermine the efforts of countries, particularly developing nations, in addressing climate change, increasing adaptive capacity and building resilience. India has opposed CBAM since it was first proposed, arguing that the border tax places an unfair burden on businesses in emerging economies by taxing embedded emissions in their exports.

CBAM, which entered its operational regime on January 1, 2026, is designed to put a price on carbon-intensive goods entering the 27-nation European Union. It imposes a border tax on products such as iron, steel, aluminium and cement, based on the emissions generated during their production. The EU has defended the mechanism as a tool to prevent 'carbon leakage' and encourage global industries to decarbonise, but critics view it as a protectionist measure that disadvantages economies with lower carbon pricing capacities.

Delivering the keynote address at the meeting, India's Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the growing global environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks. He called for stronger cooperation among BRICS members on forest fire prevention, preparedness, early warning, response and post-fire recovery.

The meeting also unveiled four knowledge compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group, showcasing leading practices, knowledge systems and innovations among member countries. In addition, the group adopted four outcome documents, including terms of reference for a network of BRICS institutions to advance knowledge sharing, research and innovation in sustainable lifestyles, and integrated landscape management for combating desertification.

BRICS, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Together, these countries account for about 40% of global GDP. Ministers or heads of delegations from all member countries except Saudi Arabia attended the ministerial meeting.

The joint opposition to CBAM is significant as the expanded grouping seeks to amplify the voice of developing countries in global climate negotiations. The member nations emphasised that climate action must respect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and refrain from measures that exacerbate inequalities in global trade.