BRICS Nations Oppose EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at New Delhi Meeting on August 19, 2026

Key facts

• BRICS nations, including India, China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia, opposed the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at the group's 12th environment ministers' meeting.
• The meeting was held in New Delhi under India's BRICS chairship 2026, and its joint ministerial statement was adopted unanimously.
• The BRICS statement described CBAM and similar measures as unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures not in line with international law.
• CBAM entered its operational regime on January 1 and imposes a border tax on carbon-intensive goods such as iron, steel, aluminium and cement entering the 27 EU nations.
• India had opposed CBAM since its conception, arguing the unilateral move places an additional burden on businesses in developing economies due to embedded emissions.
• The BRICS countries together account for 40% of global GDP, and ministers or heads of delegations of all member countries except Saudi Arabia attended the ministerial meeting.
• The meeting also released four knowledge compendiums and 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.