CBAM Weekly News Update – Week of 10 March – 16 March 2026

This week in CBAM: the 31 March deadline for authorised CBAM declarant status is fast approaching with industry warnings of import blockages for non-compliant companies, the European Commission extended the CCP tender deadline to 6 April 2026, DG TAXUD announced its first public CBAM information webinar for 19 March, the first CBAM certificate price publication on 7 April draws closer as a key financial milestone for 2026 imports, the EU-India trade agreement opened new discussions on CBAM's interaction with third-country trade partners, and the UK CBAM technical consultation closes on 24 March ahead of its January 2027 start.

1. Critical 31 March Deadline: Non-Compliant Companies Face Import Blockages

The transitional grace period for applying for authorised CBAM declarant status expires on 31 March 2026. Companies importing more than 50 tonnes of CBAM-covered goods per year that have not yet submitted their application will no longer be able to import after this date.¹

The European Commission had granted this transitional window due to operational disruptions in system access following the start of the definitive phase on 1 January 2026. Importers who submit their application on time may continue importing provisionally until a decision is reached — however, retroactive penalties will apply to rejected applications. Authorities may take up to 120 calendar days to process applications.¹

Relevant TARIC codes to be declared in customs are Y128 (existing authorisation) and Y238 (application submitted before 31 March 2026, still under review).¹

2. CCP Tender Deadline Extended to 6 April 2026

The European Commission has extended the submission deadline for the Call for Tenders to establish the Common Central Platform (CCP) — the digital infrastructure through which CBAM certificates will be sold and repurchased. The new deadline is Monday, 6 April 2026 at 17:00 CET, moved from the original 20 March 2026.²

The CCP must have a pre-operational version ready by 31 August 2026, with full operational readiness required from 1 February 2027, when Member States will begin selling CBAM certificates covering 2026 imports.³

3. Commission Organises First CBAM Information Webinar

DG TAXUD has announced its first public online information session on CBAM, scheduled for 19 March 2026 from 10:00–11:30 CET. Several Commission experts will present an overview of CBAM's framework and key implementation steps, including how embedded emissions are calculated, how verification and accreditation processes work, and guidance on applying actual verified emissions data.⁴

Registration was open until 17 March 2026. This webinar marks a significant step in the Commission's communication campaign aimed at improving stakeholder compliance and awareness ahead of the first CBAM declaration deadline in September 2027.⁴

4. Upcoming Milestone: First CBAM Certificate Price on 7 April

Although the announcement was made earlier this month, the confirmed publication of the first quarterly CBAM certificate price on 7 April 2026 remains a central point of anticipation for the market. The price will be calculated as the quarterly average of EU ETS auction prices over Q1 2026 and will be published on both the European Commission's CBAM website and in the CBAM Registry.⁵

The full publication schedule for 2026 runs into the new year: after 7 April, publications follow on 6 July, 5 October and 4 January 2027. From 2027 onwards, the Commission will switch to a weekly price calculation.⁵

This milestone marks a crucial step in the operational rollout of CBAM: importers can use the quarterly prices to budget their financial obligations for 2026 imports — certificates will only need to be purchased from February 2027.⁵

5. EU-India Trade Agreement Opens CBAM Third-Country Discussions

The new EU-India trade agreement, expected to reduce more than 96% of Indian import tariffs on European goods, has raised fresh questions about CBAM's interaction with third-country trade partners.⁶ For countries that do not have a well-functioning domestic carbon pricing system, CBAM continues to represent a structural cost disadvantage relative to EU producers.

The agreement is seen as a significant market opening for European manufacturers — particularly in machinery — but analysts note that strategic dependencies in supply chains remain, and the treatment of carbon pricing obligations in bilateral trade frameworks will require further clarity.⁶

6. UK CBAM Consultation Remains Open Ahead of 24 March Deadline

In the UK, the open technical consultation on draft secondary legislation for the future UK CBAM remains one of the most relevant parallel developments for multinational importers and manufacturers. The consultation, published by HM Revenue & Customs on 10 February 2026, remains open until 24 March 2026.⁷

The draft rules cover core administrative mechanics, including registration, tax returns, reimbursement arrangements, weight rules and record-keeping.⁸ A second set of draft secondary legislation is planned for publication in Spring 2026, with the government intending to finalise all secondary legislation later in 2026.⁷

Although the UK system will only take effect on 1 January 2027, the consultation confirms that the UK continues to build a CBAM-style framework in parallel with the EU's definitive regime, making 2026 a strategic preparation year for businesses with both EU and UK import exposure.⁹

In collaboration with

Hulsman & Partners

This article was produced in collaboration with Hulsman & Partners. Looking for expert guidance on CBAM compliance? Their team offers specialised consultancy to help your organisation navigate the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

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