As the world rings in 2026, the global trade landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. For decades, “protectionism” was a word associated with the shielding of domestic jobs or infant industries through traditional tariffs. Today, a new variant has emerged at the intersection of environmental policy and international commerce: Climate Protectionism. The most potent manifestation of this trend is the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which officially transitioned from a “reporting-only” phase to a “payment-linked” reality on January 1, 2026....