In recent years, the issue of climate change has garnered increasing global attention, with countries proposing carbon reduction policies and measures. The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a key carbon pricing and reduction measure, not only impacts global trade but also presents new challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
To ensure that carbon emissions from imported goods comply with EU environmental standards and avoid carbon leakage and shifting, the European Parliament and the European Commission officially adopted the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Act on May 16 this year. This Act will be piloted in October this year and will begin in 2026 with the imposition of carbon tariffs on imported goods such as steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, electricity, hydrogen, some precursors, and downstream steel products (such as screws and bolts). This will result in higher import costs for goods from high-carbon-emitting countries, further encouraging businesses to reduce carbon emissions and promoting the development of the global carbon market.
The implementation of CBAM will have a direct impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as these enterprises may face higher production costs and trade competition pressure. However, CBAM also brings many new opportunities for SMEs, such as promoting corporate carbon reduction, achieving carbon neutrality goals by obtaining carbon quotas through participation in carbon market transactions, seeking cooperation with green technology companies to promote the research and development and innovation of carbon reduction technologies, accelerate product upgrades and enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises, and promote green industrial transformation, develop renewable energy and environmentally friendly products, and open up new markets.
However, the implementation of CBAM will also bring some challenges to small and medium-sized enterprises, such as how to adapt to the new trade environment, how to assess and control carbon emission costs, and how to cope with international competitive pressure. Therefore, small and medium-sized enterprises need to actively seek policy support, transform and upgrade, strengthen carbon reduction management, and develop new business models to meet the challenges brought by CBAM.
In response to the impact of CBAM, the Taiwanese government has also increased its support for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing policies such as carbon reduction and technical training to encourage enterprises to actively participate in carbon emission reduction and promote sustainable development. For example, the recently launched "Ministry of Economic Affairs Small, Medium and Startup Enterprise Administration_Carbon Service" Line@ provides small and medium-sized enterprises and the public with an instant "carbon"-related information, knowledge, courses, tools, services and other dialogue platforms. Services include: carbon reduction knowledge/carbon emission estimation tools/energy conservation management/carbon reduction diagnostic services/carbon reduction subsidies and other information. The above services and the resources of the SME Green Environmental Protection Information Network are integrated into mobile phones to strengthen carbon-related publicity, communication and assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises and the public, reduce the gap in information access, enhance users' carbon awareness and carbon reduction management capabilities, help enterprises solve corporate carbon anxiety under the impact of CBAM, and encourage enterprises to move towards green development.
In summary, CBAM, as an important carbon pricing and reduction measure, has brought new opportunities and challenges to small and medium-sized enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises should seize the opportunity, actively participate in the carbon market, promote carbon reduction, strengthen technological innovation and achieve green transformation. At the same time, they should also face up to challenges and respond positively, and seek support from the government and industry to achieve sustainable development. Only through joint efforts can small and medium-sized enterprises seek greater development space in the carbon market and contribute to the realization of global carbon reduction goals.
