Abstract: With the European Union′s carbon border adjustment mechanism taking effect, carbon tariffs have become increasingly important in global political and economic discussions. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the literature in the field of carbon tariffs based on the research results of CNKI and Web of Science core collection databases from 1998 to 2023. CiteSpace is used to examine the collected research data. Specifically, this study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of the research characteristics, hot spots and trends in the field of carbon tariffs, addressing the existing gaps in the analysis of literature characteristics. The results show that researchers mainly explore the attributes and essence, legality and feasibility, economic and environmental impacts, and countermeasures of carbon tariffs, showcasing an interdisciplinary nature. Different researchers have given different evaluations and discussions from their own perspectives, but the main methodologies employed are relatively consistent, including the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) and game analysis. This field has received considerable attention from official governments and authoritative journals. Institutional collaborations are frequent, while international collaborations are generally less common. Domestic research influence is relatively weak. The evolution of publication volume can be divided into three stages: budding stage, fluctuating stage and revival stage. Research hotspots in this field have changed rapidly, and the carbon boundary adjustment mechanism has become the most significant bridge for knowledge transformation and focus shift. Key terms such as carbon neutrality, World Trade Organization rules, and the European Green Deal represent current research frontiers. Possible future research can focus on the latest progress in policy design and international negotiations, conduct in-depth research on the interests and equity indicators of developing countries, assess the multifaceted impact of carbon tariff policies from a global respective, explore the micro-response mechanisms of corporate behavior, strengthen international cooperation and exchange, or create diverse research methods.