Creating new UN structures on tax cooperation would be detrimental to international cooperation in this area, the Swiss government said on Friday. The government was responding to a parliamentary question raised in relation to a UN resolution passed at the end of December. The UN General Assembly resolution, which came at the initiative of developing countries, is aimed at improving the effectiveness and inclusiveness of international cooperation in tax matters. However, Switzerland, like the European Union and US, opposes the establishment of new bodies to govern such cooperation. The government rejects the view expressed in the resolution that current international cooperation is not inclusive. It notes that the “BEPS” (base erosion and profit sharing) project, under the aegis of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and G20 group of countries, includes 142 member states, the majority of which are developing or emerging countries. In addition, 166...
