CSRD & CBAM: The new regulatory ecosystem for international trade

The year 2026 will mark a turning point for european international trade. Two acronyms, until now confined to legal and CSR departments, will redefine the rules of the game: CSRD and CBAM. Far from being simple administrative constraints, these new regulations: CSRD and CBAM, are shaping the contours of a european economy that now refuses to turn a blind eye to the environmental impact of its trade.

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When Europe imposes its standards on the world

The CSRD: transparency becomes non-negotiable

The corporate sustainability reporting directive is radically transforming the approach to non-financial reporting. Gone are the days when a few paragraphs on "environmental efforts" were sufficient. Starting in 2025, large listed companies will have to publish sustainability reports as detailed as their financial statements.

This revolution is gradually expanding: in 2026, all large companies (more than 250 employees with a turnover exceeding 50 million euros) will be subject to it. In 2027, even listed SMEs will have to comply. The "omnibus" proposal could postpone these deadlines by two years, but the principle remains: the era of environmental opacity is coming to an end.

The concept of "double materiality" is at the heart of this approach. Companies must now analyze not only how environmental issues impact their financial performance, but also how their activities affect the environment and society. This symmetry forces a deep introspection that goes far beyond a communication exercise.

The CBAM: When borders become carbon tollbooths

The carbon border adjustment mechanism is a world first: Europe is imposing a carbon price on imports. Since October 2023, a transitional period has required importers to declare the carbon emissions of certain products. Starting in january 2026, this declaration will turn into an invoice.

Six sectors are leading the way: steel, aluminum, cement, nitrogen fertilizers, hydrogen, and electricity. The principle is simple: importers of goods from non-EU states will have to buy emissions certificates based on the european carbon price, certificates they would have had to pay if the goods had been produced in the EU.

This measure breaks a historic competitive imbalance. Until now, european companies alone bore the cost of their ecological transition, while their non-european competitors benefited from a cost advantage linked to less demanding environmental standards.

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The concrete impact on your supply chain

Obligations that transform business processes

For companies active internationally, these new regulations: CSRD and CBAM, require a transformation of their processes. The CSRD demands precise traceability of environmental impacts throughout the value chain: mapping the emissions of each supplier, analyzing the climate risks affecting your supplies, and quantifying the impact on biodiversity.

The CBAM adds an immediate financial dimension. Importers must collect precise carbon emissions data from their non-european suppliers. Without this information, they will have to fall back on default values that are generally unfavorable, increasing the cost of CBAM certificates.

This data collection is not just an accounting exercise. It involves convincing sometimes reluctant suppliers to share sensitive information, harmonizing different calculation methodologies across countries, and verifying the reliability of crucial information in the context of these new regulations: CSRD, CBAM.

An inevitable increase in the cost of imports

The CBAM introduces an additional cost to imports. The principle is that importers will have to buy emissions certificates based on the european carbon price, indexed to the rates of the ETS (european trading system). This increase changes the competitive balance and pushes companies to rethink their sourcing strategies.

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Turning constraint into a competitive advantage

Anticipation as a differentiating factor

These new regulations: CSRD and CBAM, create opportunities for companies that prepare for them effectively. In the financing market, ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria influence the conditions for accessing credit. Companies compliant with the CSRD benefit from a trust premium with investors and banks.

The CBAM favors european suppliers and the most virtuous non-european partners. A company that structures its supply chain around carbon criteria gains a decisive lead over its competitors.

Rethinking the geography of your supplies

These regulations are accelerating "nearshoring" or local relocations. Importing from countries that already apply a carbon price becomes more attractive than from regions without climate constraints. Adapting to these new regulations: CSRD, CBAM is thus reshaping the geography of trade.

This evolution is accompanied by a selection of partners based on their environmental performance. Companies will need to rely on suppliers capable of providing precise emissions data to optimize their CBAM costs.

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Solutions for navigating the landscape of the new regulations: CSRD, CBAM

Structuring data collection and analysis

The success of this transition depends on the ability to collect, verify, and analyze ESG data.
The CSRD imposes a standardized digital format (xHTML) and indicators defined by the ESRS standards.
The CBAM, for its part, requires quarterly declarations via a dedicated european registry.

Optimizing your cash flow in the face of new constraints

The new regulations (CSRD, CBAM) are changing international cash flow management. The CBAM introduces an obligation to purchase certificates in advance, creating an additional financing need. Companies must maintain a minimum stock of certificates and anticipate their annual needs.

This constraint can be optimized through financing solutions adapted to international trade. Supplier payment facilities help to smooth the financial impact, while multi-currency accounts facilitate the management of CBAM certificate purchases.

The emergence of responsible international trade

These regulatory changes mark the emergence of a new era for international trade: Europe is influencing practices beyond its borders. This convergence is shaping the contours of an international trade where environmental criteria are becoming decisive in sourcing decisions.

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For companies active on a global scale, the challenge is no longer to endure these transformations, but to anticipate them to turn them into a competitive lever. In this race to adapt to the new CSRD and CBAM regulations, the ability to innovate in processes, select the right partners, and optimize cash flow will be the difference between the leaders of tomorrow and the laggards of yesterday.

The european regulatory ecosystem is redefining the rules of the global trade game. It is up to companies to seize this as an opportunity to build a sustainable competitive advantage in the decarbonized economy of tomorrow.

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