For 36 years, the Joint Technical Liaison Meeting (JTLM) has helped provide product compliance professionals in the non-road equipment manufacturing industry with the requisite knowledge they need to help their organizations maintain market access around the world.
AEM was proud to host the 2026 edition of the event, held June 2-4, in Dallas, Texas, which offered an in-person forum for various trade associations to share their thoughts and perspectives on issues of common concern for non-road equipment manufacturers and “compare notes” regarding standards and regulatory activities happening in their respective regions.
What follows is the final installation of a four-part series of AEM Industry Advisor articles that highlight some of the key details of presentations and discussions from the 36th edition of the JTLM. Read the full PDF and Part 1 of the JTLM article series to gain a comprehensive look at the industry issues covered at last month’s JTLM.
Air Quality and Decarbonization
CECE Decarbonization Activities
CECE’s decarbonization work centers on technology neutrality, end-user needs, favorable market conditions, international alignment, and avoiding premature selection of specific technologies. The Product Carbon Footprint Guidelines Project has completed Phase 1 cradle-to-gate work, while national activity in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Germany reinforces the need for incentives, demand-side support, clear definitions, and coordinated policy (rather than premature supply mandates).
Ecodesign Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
Implementation of the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation is focused on the 2025–2030 working plan, the JRC study on iron and steel, Digital Product Passports, and substances-of-concern information. Current work appears aimed at regulating iron and steel as intermediate products rather than final construction machinery, but downstream manufacturers may face significant data-flow complexity across steel, aluminum, batteries, paint, lubricants, and other future product groups.
CBAM Update
The EU CBAM update covers 2025–2026 secondary legislation, Omnibus I simplification, and a proposed downstream scope extension beginning in 2028. Regulation (EU) 2025/2083 simplifies reporting and certificate obligations, but industry remains concerned that a limited downstream extension may not restore competitiveness and could increase cost and administrative burden for products using CBAM-covered materials or components.
CARB and EPA in the U.S.
The U.S. emissions landscape is shifting across EPA SCR/DEF guidance, greenhouse gas authority, California waiver disputes, CARB Tier 5 activity, and state and federal legislation. Key risks involve inducement severity, tampering interpretations, waiver litigation, Tier 5 and PACE development, DEF repair access, SCR cold-weather treatment, and potential changes to federal emissions authority affecting compliance, preemption, and manufacturer liability.
Engine Emissions
Mexico
Mexico’s NOM-174-SEMARNAT-2026 establishes the country’s first national emissions framework for new diesel-fueled NRMM engines from 19 to 560 kW, excluding agricultural machinery and certain other categories. The rule is broadly Tier 3-like and requires certification before import or first sale, creating execution risks around short lead time, certification capacity, transition from global approvals, and supply impacts.
China
China’s NR-V update points to a future standard drawing from EU Stage V concepts while adding China-specific elements such as expanded PEMS, production-level testing, remote monitoring, and continuing compliance. A draft is expected in mid-2026 with possible effectiveness around 2029–2030, but timeline feasibility will depend heavily on harmonization with EU Stage V and clarity on machine-level testing requirements.
Digital Policies
European Union
EU Data Act
The EU Data Act has applied since Sept. 12, 2025, and creates new data-access obligations for connected products and related services, affecting OEMs, suppliers, service providers, rental companies, data holders, users, and third parties.
Key guidance issues include scope, readily available data, metadata, trade secrets, territoriality, GDPR and CRA interaction, EU-market coverage for non-EU manufacturers, and future Commission guidance on definitions and reasonable compensation.
EU Artificial Intelligence Act
The EU AI Act update focuses on Commission guidance, high-risk AI classification, and Digital Omnibus changes relevant to machinery manufacturers using AI-enabled systems. Key developments include clarified AI-system elements, delayed high-risk timelines for Annex III and machinery-related Annex I rules, recognition that AI Act standards may support Machinery Regulation compliance, and clarification that non-safety AI functions should not be treated as safety components.
Cybersecurity Resilience Act
The EU Cyber Resilience Act sets horizontal cybersecurity requirements for hardware and software products with digital elements, with reporting obligations beginning Sept. 11, 2026, and full application starting Dec. 11, 2027. Manufacturers should prepare for cybersecurity-by-design, vulnerability handling, conformity assessment, reporting through the CRA Single Reporting Platform, as well as emerging horizontal and vertical standards under the Commission’s standardization request.
About the JTLM
The JTLM consists of various global trade associations (AEM from the United States, CCMA from China, CECE from the European Union, CMEIG from Australia, ICEMA from India, KOCEMA from Korea, and CEMA from Japan) presenting and exchanging information on current and ongoing legislative, compliance, and standards activities worldwide.
For more than three decades, members and staff from the aforementioned associations have gathered in-person to promote:
- Reduction of technical barriers to trade
- Harmonization of product-oriented legislation, regulations, and standards in areas such as safety, environment, health, and product quality, as well as testing and certification of products
- The development and announcement of clear, effective, and reasonable legislation, regulation, and standards
For addition information on AEM Safety & Product Leadership activities, contact AEM’s Jason Malcore at jmalcore@aem.org.
