France, Germany push for ‘historic agreement’ on global corporate tax rate

France and Germany pushed for a “historic” agreement among major economies on a minimum tax rate for multinational corporations Wednesday, hoping to shore up support after sceptical European countries expressed opposition to the plan.

Spearheaded by US President Joe Biden, the proposal for a 15 percent minimum tax rate has hit turbulence after Ireland’s finance minister expressed “significant reservations” over it.

“The change of (US) administration offers a historic opportunity… and we have to seize opportunities when they present themselves. It’s now. It’s now that we must act,” insisted French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire at a joint press conference ahead of the upcoming Franco-German Economic and Financial Council.

His German counterpart Olaf Scholz said he was “optimistic” about the chances of sealing an agreement he said would end “disastrous fiscal competition” between countries.

“We are very close to concluding an international agreement” which will lead to “a revolution in international corporate taxation,” Scholz added.

Biden’s administration last week called for agreement on a unified tax rate of a minimum of 15 percent in negotiations with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the G20.

But on Tuesday Ireland’s Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the country had “a really significant concern” about a global rate that meant “only certain countries, and certain size economies can benefit from that base”.

Eyes on G7

The objection carries weight because Ireland hosts an outsized number of technology and pharmaceutical firms that were attracted to the country for its lower tax rate.

Last month, Dublin’s finance ministry released a projection saying it could lose two billion euros ($2.4 billion) each year in revenue starting in 2025 if a global minimum tax rate is enacted.

Donohoe’s concerns were echoed by Hungary’s foreign minister on a trip to Dublin on Tuesday.

“Like Ireland, Hungary is in favour of a low level of tax,” Peter Szijjarto said.

Ireland’s corporate tax rate is currently 12.5 percent and Hungary’s is nine percent—whereas France and Germany impose rates of almost 30 percent, according to OECD calculations.

Luxembourg, also home to myriad multinational companies, said it was in favour of “minimum taxation” in order to create “conditions for fair competition” between countries—but has not commented specifically on the proposed 15 percent rate.

Finance ministers from the G7 group of advanced nations—consisting of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and Britain—are set to meet next week in London, where they could endorse the US proposal.

Le Maire said he, Scholz and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak had agreed to do “their utmost” to draw up an agreement at the meeting.

They will then build upon on that at the larger G20 session in July in Venice, Le Maire said, adding that “step by step we will manage to convince all of our partners”.

The IMF’s leader on Tuesday also offered her endorsement to the plan.

Finance chiefs have characterized a minimum tax as necessary to stem competition between countries over who can offer multinationals the lowest rate.

They say that “race to the bottom” saps revenues that could go to other government priorities.

© 2021 AFP