A WTO dispute panel will now examine Russia's challenge to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Russia argues CBAM is a trade barrier and that free ETS allowances to European industry act as an unlawful subsidy. The case is the first major legal test of CBAM under WTO rules, and African countries can join as third parties without bearing the full cost of a dispute. For African exporters, the practical value may be limited because the WTO appeals body is still not functional, so a panel ruling could be appealed into a void. The more immediate path is direct negotiation with the EU. India's recent trade deal includes a CBAM annex that allows flexibility on verifiers and future crediting of domestic carbon pricing. African countries could pursue similar arrangements while also reviving the EU-AU dialogue platform on CBAM. The panel's findings could still shape how trade and climate measures are interpreted later. But the article makes a fair point: legal action alone will not fix CBAM's impact on Africa. Diplomacy and regional coordination need to run alongside it.
