US accuses EU of bias in tax probes

The US treasury secretary Jack Lew accused regulators from the European Union of 'disproportionately' targeting US firms in their broader efforts to crack down on corporate tax evasion.

In a letter sent to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in February 2016, Mr Lew demanded that the EU backed off in its probes into tax practices of big US firms like Apple, Amazon, Starbucks and McDonald's, arguing that it had created 'disturbing international tax policy precedents'.

The letter also warned that these probes could damage 'mutual cooperation and respect that many countries have worked so hard to develop and preserve'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Commission decides selective tax advantages for Fiat in Luxembourg and Starbucks in the Netherlands are illegal under EU state aid rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-decides-selective-tax-advantages-for-fiat-in-luxembourg-and-starbucks-in-the-netherlands-are-illegal-under-eu-state-aid-rules/

ESO: Background information: Antitrust: Commission opens formal investigation into Amazon's e-book distribution arrangements http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-opens-formal-investigation-into-amazons-e-book-distribution-arrangements/

ESO: Background information: EU to accuse Apple of taking illegal tax aid from Ireland http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-to-accuse-apple-of-taking-illegal-tax-aid-from-ireland-reports-say/

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission opens formal investigation into Luxembourg's tax treatment of McDonald's http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-opens-formal-investigation-into-luxembourgs-tax-treatment-of-mcdonalds/

Irish Independent, 12.02.16: US Treasury asks EU to reconsider tax probes on companies such as Apple http://www.independent.ie/business/world/us-treasury-asks-eu-to-reconsider-tax-probes-on-companies-such-as-apple-34446481.html

The Wall Street Journal, 11.02.16: U.S. Treasury’s Lew Challenges EU on Corporate Tax Investigations http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-treasurys-lew-challenges-eu-on-corporate-tax-investigations-1455177782

The Guardian, 29.01.16: European commission unfairly targeting US companies over taxes, official says http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/european-commission-unfairly-targeting-us-companies-starbucks-mcdonalds-amazon-apple-taxes-treasury

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