WTO: Trade Review of UAE
From 22 to 24 March 2022 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) conducted a review of the trade policies and practices of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As a basis for the review, a report was prepared by the WTO Secretariat. The UAE’s economy
See MoreWTO: Work Plan for New Trade and Environmental Sustainability Talks
At a meeting on 7 February 2022, World Trade Organisation (WTO) members reviewed a proposed 2022 work plan for the new initiative on trade and environmental sustainability. The draft work plan includes the proposed work areas for the formal
See MoreOECD: Taxation of Development Projects
On 11 February 2022 a blog by the Director of the OECD Centre for Policy Administration and the Director of the OECD Development Cooperation Directorate looked at the taxation of projects financed by foreign aid. Developing countries have
See MoreEU: Auditors Review Energy Taxation and Carbon Pricing
A review published on 31 January 2022 by the European Court of Auditors entitled Energy Taxation, Carbon Pricing and Energy Subsidies notes that the EU countries tax and subsidise energy sources in a manner that contradicts their climate goals; and
See MoreWTO: Director General Outlines Initiatives for Responsible and Sustainable Trade
On 28 January 2022 the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) gave a keynote speech at a conference on more responsible and sustainable trade, held in France which currently has the presidency of the European Union. The speech
See MoreOECD: Tax Treatment of Overseas Development Assistance
On 20 January 2022 the OECD announced the launch of a digital hub to bring increased transparency to the taxation of development aid. The Tax Treatment of Official Development Assistance Hub sets out the approaches taken by participating donor
See MoreWTO: Five Aims for the WTO Member Countries in 2022
A blog post on 10 January 2022 from the WTO Deputy Director General Ms Gonzalez looked at five important tasks for the WTO in 2022. Response to the pandemic The WTO members need to deliver a trade and health response to the pandemic, in view
See MoreUN: Tax Committee Discusses Interaction of Investment Agreements and Tax
In its meetings from 19 to 28 October 2021 the UN Committee has covered, among other issues, the interaction of tax, trade and investment agreements. A Note on the Interaction of Tax Trade and Investment Agreements was prepared by the UNDESA
See MoreUkraine: STS clarifies the controlled transactions criteria for TP purposes
Recently, the State Tax Service (STS) has clarified the criteria for classifying transactions between related parties (Ukrainian residents and non-residents) as controlled for transfer pricing (TP) purposes. Under Ukrainian transfer pricing
See MoreUNCTAD report on illicit financial flows
The UNCTAD publication Economic Development in Africa Report 2020: Tackling Illicit Financial Flows for Sustainable Development in Africa was published in July 2021. The UNCTAD report argues that tackling illicit financial flows is an important
See MoreEU: Proposed carbon border tax criticised by BRICS countries
On 27 August 2021 a virtual BRICS ministerial meeting on the environment stated its joint opposition to the EU’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism and referred to it as discriminatory. The BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India,
See MoreWTO: World Trade Statistical Review 2021
On 30 July 2021 the WTO released the World Trade Statistical Review for 2021, setting out the statistics that clarify trends in world trade. Goods The effect of the pandemic led to a fall of 8% in the value of world merchandise exports in
See MoreWTO: Goods Trade Barometer Shows Strong Expansion
On 18 August 2021, the WTO published the latest reading of the WTO Goods Trade Barometer. The Barometer provides real time information on trends in trade in merchandise relative to the recent trajectory. It is therefore an indicator that runs ahead
See MoreOECD: Communique Issued by the Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers
Following the meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors on 9 and 10 July 2021 a communiqué was issued summarising the issues discussed. The communiqué noted that the global outlook has further improved since the previous
See MoreWTO: Trade Monitoring Report
On 28 June 2021 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issued the 25th WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures. The report covers the period from mid-October 2020 to mid-May 2021. The review notes that the period saw an increase in
See MoreUN: Tax treatment of government-to-government projects
On 28 April 2021 the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters released the UN Guidelines on the Tax Treatment of Government-to-Government Aid Projects. Developing countries frequently grant tax exemptions in relation
See MoreEU: BASIC countries express concern at the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
A Joint Statement issued on 8 April 2021 at the conclusion of the 30th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change has expressed concern about the insufficiency and inadequacy of the support provided by developed countries; and is concerned that
See MoreUK: SME Brexit Support Fund open for applications
From 15 March 2021 a Brexit Support Fund for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is accepting applications for grants of up to GDP 2,000 to assist with adaptation to new customs and tax rules that now apply when trading with the European Union
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