Webinar on unpacking the EU CBAM's implications for China

As the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) shifts from its transitional reporting phase into full financial implementation, its ripple effects are poised to fundamentally reshape global trade. Designed to prevent carbon leakage and incentivise cleaner industrial production by leveling the field for European industry, CBAM is expected to introduce unprecedented complexities for major exporting economies. What does this mean for the future of China’s economy, industrial competitiveness, and international trade relations?

Join us on 10 June 2026, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. CEST for an exclusive, expert-led webinar exploring the multi-dimensional impacts of the EU CBAM on China. Bringing together leading European and Chinese climate, trade, and industrial policy researchers, this session will translate qualitative and quantitative science into actionable insights, providing a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

• Industrial and trade impacts: We will discuss how the CBAM could influence economic sectors, reshape international trade boundaries, and impact China's export competitiveness on the global stage.
• Strategic policy responses: We will scrutinise China’s potential countermeasures, exploring how domestic carbon pricing, Emissions Trading System (ETS) expansion, and trade diversion strategies can mitigate economic exposure. Will the CBAM spark trade frictions, or will it catalyse a new era of green cooperation? 
• Spotlight on the steel industry: We will gain both quantitative and qualitative insights into one of the most heavily exposed sectors and learn how the transition to low-carbon technologies and domestic policy shifts could offset billions in potential CBAM certificate costs.

Following the expert presentations, a vivid panel discussion and moderated audience Q&A will delve deeper into the intersection of climate action and global trade dynamics. Whether you are a policymaker, industry leader, supply-chain strategist, or climate researcher, this webinar will equip you with the essential insights needed to navigate this dynamic landscape.

The webinar is co-organised by the Horizon Europe projects ENTICE and EU-CHINA BRIDGE and endorsed by RENEW-Industry (REsearch NEtWork on Industrial Decarbonisation).

REGISTER HERE

Agenda

• Introduction & brief presentation of hosting projects (5'), by Dr. Maro Baka (E3-Modelling S.A., E3M) and Dr. Lukas Hermwille (Wuppertal Institut, WI)

• A brief introduction to the Chinese industrial context (5'), by Ms. Xinyi Shen (Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, CREA)

• Pitching (10' each)

  • Expanding carbon pricing boundaries and the EU CBAM: insights into China and India, by Dr. Paola Rocchi (Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, CMCC)

  • Structural and economic impacts of EU CBAM and a potential CBAM expansion: insights into China and other major economies, by Zoi Vrontisi (E3-Modelling S.A., E3M)
  • Trade war to cooperation: scrutinising China’s strategies to the EU CBAM, by Dr. Marc Vielle (ORDECSYS & École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL)
  • The impacts of CBAM on international trade and policy responses from an economic and environmental equity perspective – the case of China, by Prof. Pu Wang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS)
  • The impact of the EU CBAM on Chinese steel industry: a quantitative perspective, by Ms. Xueye Liu (Institute for Global Decarbonisation Progress, IGDP)
• Panel discussion (25'), Q&A moderated by Dr. Alexandros Nikas (Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, ICCS)
• Closing remarks (5'), Dr. Lukas Hermwille (Wuppertal Institut, WI)