EU Introduces CO2 Border Tax: What This Means for Austrian Companies

75.36 Euros per certificate — the EU is getting serious about the CBAM climate protection instrument. Steel, aluminum, cement: Whoever imports now pays for CO2.

Vienna, April 7, 2026 – The EU Commission has set the price for its new carbon border adjustment mechanism for the first time. For the first quarter, it stands at 75.36 euros per certificate. What sounds abstract will have concrete effects on companies—and this retroactively from January 2026.

What is CBAM?

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – CBAM for short – is Europe's answer to an old problem: Why should European companies comply with expensive climate regulations when their competitors from third countries can produce cheaply and deliver to the EU unimpeded?

Taxes are levied on CO2 emissions from the production of imported goods such as steel, aluminum, cement, and fertilizers. This CO2 equalization is intended to prevent production from shifting to countries with less stringent climate regulations.

What does that mean for Austria?

Austria's industry is heavily dependent on imports – steel from Ukraine, aluminum from Russia and Turkey, fertilizers from North Africa. All of this is now becoming more expensive.

Particularly explosive: France pointed to increased costs due to supply disruptions in the wake of the Iran war. The energy crisis and the new CO2 tariff are hitting companies at the same time.

The Two Sides of Power

CBAM is well-intentioned – and correct. But the timing question remains: In the midst of an energy crisis, with rising raw material prices and weak growth, the EU is increasing the costs of imports. Who ultimately pays? As always: the consumer.

YANUS continues to monitor price developments. Next analysis: Which Austrian industries are most affected?