On 10 September 2025, the proposed simplifications to the EU’s Carbon Border Mechanism (CBAM) were adopted by the European Parliament, with a majority endorsing the amendment. The adopted legislative modifications include a 50-tonne de minimis threshold that would exempt about 90% of importers, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and occasional traders, while maintaining coverage of an estimated 99% of emissions from targeted imports.

The State Administration for Market Regulation began implementing a batch of major national standards on 1 September, aimed at supporting the regulation of emerging and future industries, promoting energy conservation, emissions reduction and efficiency improvements, facilitating a good consumption environment, and protecting people’s lives and property.

Sustainable fashion is commonly associated with the recycling or upcycling of clothing and accessories, but can also be integrated at the initial phase of textile production. United Textile Mills Co. Ltd (UTM) is one of Thailand’s leading textile manufacturers. Managing Director, Nutra Uttamapinant, outlines her companies’ strategies for leveraging innovation and technology to minimise the environmental impact during textile production.

The European Commission (“Commission”) has initiated three new public consultations concerning the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”). The deadline to submit comments in all three new public consultations is 25 September 2025. The consultation responses will feed into the European Commission’s development of the implementing regulations that need to be put in place before the definitive CBAM period starts on 1 January 2026.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a plan to promote green and low-carbon standardisation in the industrial and information technology sectors on 26 June.

The transitional phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will conclude at the end of 2025. Nonetheless, the European Commission (“Commission”) still has concerns about downstream carbon leakage. As such, it is seeking feedback from stakeholders regarding an expansion of the CBAM’s scope that would cover downstream goods.

The Council of the EU (which represents the Member States) and the European Parliament were approaching final negotiations to adopt a new Directive intended to combat false green claims targeted at EU consumers. However, the European Commission (the “Commission”) announced that it was withdrawing its proposal, citing worries over the legislation’s effects on small businesses.

The US Department of Commerce will soon impose antidumping and countervailing and duties (AD/CVD) on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The duty rates to be imposed vary, with imports from Cambodia the highest at 650% to 3,500%, followed by Thailand (375% to 972%), Vietnam (120% to 813%) and Malaysia (14% to 250%). The new duties will be in addition to the worldwide tariffs introduced by the Trump administration earlier and are currently scheduled to take effect in July.

The European Commission (the “Commission”) has recently designated, by means of Regulation 2025/1093, high and low risk counties with regard to the production of a number of commodities associated with deforestation and forest degradation. Hong Kong sellers may recall that the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation 2023/1115 – the “EUDR”) , was delayed partly due to complexity issues. Since its delay, the Commission has also introduced subsequent guidance to simplify and ensure consistent application of the rules.

The European Parliament endorsed a set of proposed simplifications to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 22 May 2025. They include a new 50-tonne de minimis threshold that would exempt about 90% of importers, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and occasional traders, while maintaining coverage of an estimated 99% of emissions from targeted imports. Following the parliamentary vote in plenary on 22 May 2025, The Council of the EU adopted – on 27 May – its own negotiating position on the Commission proposal. As a next step, the European Parliament and Council (as the EU’s co-legislators) will start negotiations with a view to a final adoption of the proposed legislative text.