Despite business concerns, the UK will move forward with the 2027 Carbon Border Tax

Published Date: 4 December 2025

Despite business concerns, the UK will move forward with the 2027 Carbon Border Tax first image

Even though some businesses are worried about how a carbon border tax will affect costs and international trade, the UK government has said again that it will put one in place by 2027. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may fine imported goods that release a lot of carbon dioxide during their production.

Under the plan, products that come into the UK market will have to pay extra taxes. These include steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, and ceramics. Products that pollute more will have to pay more in taxes. The amount of carbon released during production will determine how much more. The government says that the new plan is meant to stop "carbon leakage," which is when companies move their operations to countries with less strict environmental rules to get around local climate regulations.

Ministers say that the plan will stop cheaper, higher-emission imports from hurting UK businesses that are already spending a lot of money on greener technologies. They also think it's an important part of reaching the UK's legally required net-zero goals.

Despite business concerns, the UK will move forward with the 2027 Carbon Border Tax second image

Several businesses and trade groups say that the new tax could raise the cost of imports and make things uncertain for manufacturers who rely on international supply chains. Business groups have asked for clear rules, help during the transition, and close communication with trading partners to make sure the plan doesn't hurt competition.

The government has said that it will keep talking to businesses before giving out more information, like how the fee will be set up and how emissions will be measured. Officials say the goal is to connect the UK's system to other systems being set up around the world, like the EU's CBAM, which will start this year.

Ministers say that the policy is still necessary, even though it has been criticized, to make sure that efforts to lower carbon emissions are fair across all sectors and countries. The government says that the tax will level the playing field for UK manufacturers and encourage more environmentally friendly manufacturing around the world.