Korea Federation of SMEs Holds 'EU-CBAM Downstream Product Expansion Response Industry Seminar'

The Korea Federation of SMEs announced on May 11 that it held the 'EU-CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) Downstream Product Expansion Response Industry Seminar' for EU-exporting SMEs and executives and staff of related industry associations.

The European Union plans to expand the application of CBAM, which currently covers six items including steel and aluminum, to downstream products that use these materials starting in 2028. The seminar was organized to provide information and share preparations so that SMEs in industries likely to be affected by the expanded regulations—such as metals, medical devices, and automotive parts—can proactively respond.

The session was led by Senior Researcher Sin Seorin from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, covering the institutional overview of CBAM, recent developments, criteria for determining whether downstream products are subject to the regulation, methods for calculating carbon emissions, and step-by-step response strategies for SMEs manufacturing or exporting downstream goods.

A representative from the Korea Federation of SMEs stated, "The joint government working group, which co-hosted this seminar, plans to continuously expand and operate EU-CBAM response briefings and seminars," adding, "We expect this will help domestic companies establish a foundation to respond to new trade norms."