The metal industry faces significant challenges in implementing carbon trading mechanisms, including competitiveness concerns, allocation of emission allowances, regulatory exemptions, measurement complexities, policy uncertainties, and international trade considerations. Addressing such complex issues requires a comprehensive evaluation framework capable of handling the inherent uncertainty and subjectivity in decision-making processes. This study introduces an innovative application of the Spherical Fuzzy VIKOR method to systematically assess and prioritize the barriers to effective carbon trading in the metal industry. The proposed framework allows for a comprehensive representation of uncertainty and expert judgment in multi-criteria decision-making scenarios. Preliminary findings suggest that competitiveness and carbon leakage emerge as the most pressing concerns, followed by complexities in emission allowance allocation and measurement challenges. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders in formulating targeted strategies to overcome the identified challenges, thereby facilitating more effective carbon trading practices within the metal sector. This study contributes to the literature by showing the applicability of the Spherical Fuzzy VIKOR method of policy evaluation in industries characterized by complex and uncertain decision-making environments. The proposed methodology represents a novel approach, providing a more robust tool for handling vagueness and subjectivity in multi-criteria assessments.