ITIO NEWS

The ITIO in the news
>Responses to terrorism <
Speeches
Key documents
Analysis

 Press releases
  2 October 2002 Small countries urge OECD to learn from inclusive Commonwealth
  24 September 2002 OECD corporate crime clampdown flawed
  6 August 2002 Corporate vehicle clampdown may fail: OECD can't afford to overlook own members in tackling abuse, new study warns
  30 April 2002 ITIO welcomes OECD agreement on level playing field framework
  18 April 2002 Is OECD preparing sanctions against Switzerland and Luxembourg or not?
  7 March 2002 Cook Islands commitment to OECD tax project depends on equivalance
  5 March 2002 The OECD's harmful tax competition initiative:
SIX FACTS TO BEAR IN MIND
  13 February 2002 ITIO seeks OECD commitment to level playing field
  16 January 2002 ITIO calls on OECD to justify 'double standards'
  16 November 2001 OECD tax project less successful than thought, says ITIO
  15 November 2001 ITIO welcomes OECD report with reservations
Questions about level playing field remain
  22 October 2001 ITIO challenges OECD: "Do as you would be done by"; also links tax and trade policies.
  19 July 2001 US Treasury Secretary details criticism of OECD tax project; small countries demand inclusion in setting standards
  6 July 2001 ITIO welcomes New Zealand opposition to OECD sanctions
  21 June 2001 OECD's tax project has no future unless small countries invited to join Global Tax Forum
  15 June 2001 ITIO welcomes US restatement of concerns about OECD tax project, still awaits OECD's promised clarifications
  6 June 2001 ITIO urges OECD: "Give us the information you promised, review your sanctions deadline"
  17 May 2001 ITIO urges equal discussions between OECD and small countries.
  11 May 2001 ITIO welcomes O'Neill statement, wants equal involvement for SDEs in setting tax standards.
  28 April 2001 Statement by the Pacific Forum, "Regional talks on harmful tax competition".
  23 March 2001 Small and developing economies respond to OECD, pursue equal treatment, agree to continue working together.
  2 March 2001 Statement by Rt Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, on the creation of an International Tax and Investment Organisation

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 Responses to terrorism
 
As free and democratic countries, members of the ITIO are cooperating fully with the United States and the coalition against terrorism.

We ask everyone to recall that there is no automatic connection between countries with low or zero tax rates and terrorism.

Along with free and democratic governments across the world, we are continuing to work to block terrorists' access to funds.
  
Antigua and Barbuda
Statement to the nation by Prime Minister Hon Lester Bird MP
 
Bahamas
Press release on monitoring of the Bahamas financial sector

Establishment of a Compliance Commission to assist with anti-money laundering efforts
 
British Virgin Islands
Statement by Chief Minister Hon Ralph O'Neal on the war against terrorist financing
 
Cayman Islands
Press release on assisting US authorities
 
Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth leaders take action on terrorism
 
Malaysia
Statement by LOFSA on usage of the offshore banking system by criminal or fraudulent elements
 
St Lucia
Statement by Hon. Philip J Pierre, Minister for Commerce, International Financial Services and Consumer Affairs

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  The ITIO in the news
  24 September 2002 Tax havens fight back against OECD - BBC Online
  24 September 2002 STEP and ITIO issue report critical of OECD -
Tax-News.com
  19 April 2002 Nations wiped off haven list - Miami Herald
  16 April 2002 What next for OECD's crusade? - International Money Marketing
  4 April 2002 OECD To Dive Into Accounting Standards Bog, Tax-News.com
  2 April 2002 Conditional success for OECD harmful tax project, International Tax Review
  29 March 2002 The OECD harmful tax practices deadline finds 23 hold outs and 10 commitments - International Enforcement Law Reporter
  8 March 2002 Cook Islands makes conditional commitment to OECD,Tax-News.com 
  6 March 2002 Caribbean countries insist on equal rules, BBC Caribbean Report
  6 March 2002 Small nations call for a level playing field in international tax matters, BBC Caribbean Report
  3 March 2002 Tax havens demand action from OECD members, International Tax Review
  27 February 2002 Channel Islands agree tax haven deal, BBC Online
  19 February 2002 The OECD's February 28th deadline is nigh, Tax-News.com
  15 February 2002 ITIO accuses OECD of double standards, Tax-News.com
  8 February 2002 Decision time for Pacific 'tax havens' as OECD deadline looms, Pacific Islands News
  6 February 2002 Countries meet to discuss OECD tax issues, Pacific Islands News
  11 December 2001 OECD eases conditions for tax havens: 'name & shame deadline' postboned to February, Latin American, Caribbean & Central America Report
  6 December 2001 Financial centres ready to bar terrorist financing, International Money Marketing
  6 December 2001 Cash-filled suitcases give way to hedge funds, International Money Marketing
  26 November 2001 OECD criticised for war on tax evasion - FT Adviser
  25 November 2001 Tax havens question OECD fairness - Legal Media Group
  21 November 2001 Offshore finance centres hit at OECD tax competition: Caribbean nations demand 'level playing field' - Financial Times
  19 November 2001 Offshore jurisdictions worry about OECD report - Tax-News.com
  16 novembre 2001 L'ITIO (paradis fiscaux) salue avec des réserves le compromis de l'OCDE - Agence France Press
  16 November 2001 Offshore jurisdictions give guarded welcome to OECD report - Tax-News.com
  25 October 2001 ITIO calls for consistency from OECD - Tax-News.com, London
  3 October 2001 A tax on freedom - Portfolio International
  3 October 2001 Despite US objections, OECD's tax haven drive rolls on - International Money Marketing
  25 September 2001 ITIO supports fights against terrorism, warns on human rights - Public Radio International, "The World"
  6 August 2001 BVI Prime Minister warns OECD not to exclude offshore jurisdictions - Tax-news.com
  July/August 2001 ITIO calls on OECD to demonstrate good faith ­ Euromoney / International Tax Review
  20 July 2001 US eases stance on 'tax havens' - BBC News online
  12 July 2001 Offshore tax havens reject calls for transparency - Third World Network
  1 July 2001 Welcome for OECD tax deal - Sunday Business
  26 June 2001 So-called tax havens are warning the OECD that its tax project has no future unless they are involved in the process - BBC World Service, Caribbean Report (requires Real Player)
  18 June 2001 World's richest nations meet to consider fate of offshore banking havens ­ Miami Herald
  13 June 2001 U.S. drops objections to OECD tax haven crusade ­ Reuters
  12 June 2001 OECD likely to push back tax haven sanctions deadline ­ Bloomberg News
  10 June 2001 U.S. Under Pressure for Opposing Curb on Tax Havens, Money Laundering ­ Sunday Business (London)
  9 June 2001 Answer our questions and give us more time: OECD criticised over blacklist timing - Accountancy Magazine (UK)
  7 June 2001 Commonwealth states urge OECD to delay tax haven deadline ­ Agence France Presse
  7 June 2001 Tax havens ask clarification from OECD - Financial Times
  17 May 2001 Strength in numbers: the International Tax and Investment Organization is here and it means business - OFC Publications
  16 May 2001 Tax havens welcome US stance - Financial Times
  14 May 2001 Low-Tax Jurisdictions Press OECD to Answer Questions on Fairness - Tax Notes International
  May 2001 US Undermines OECD Harmful Tax Initiative - Offshore Red
  14 May 2001 British Territories Don't Plan to Endorse OECD Tax Crackdown - Tax Notes International
  14 May 2001 US Retreating from OECD Crackdown on Tax Havens - Bloomberg News
  10 May 2001 Awaiting OECD response on transparency questions - Letter to Financial Times from Robert Mathavious, Director of Financial Services, British Virgin Islands

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  Speeches
  The future of financial services in the Caribbean, by HE Sir Ronald Sanders, Chief Foreign Affairs Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, 7 September 2001
 
OECD working group must become truly inclusive, by Hon Ralph T O'Neal, Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands, 4 August 2001
 
Closing statement by the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, at the High-Level Consultations on the OECD's Harmful Tax Competition Initiative, 9 January 2001
 
A call for multilateral dialogue, by H E The Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General, at the High-Level Consultations on the OECD's Harmful Tax Competition Initiative, Barbados, 8 January 2001
  
Opening statement by the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, at the High-Level Consultations on the OECD’s Harmful Tax Competition Initiative, Barbados, 8 January 2001
 
Promoting a more inclusive dialogue, by Hon George A McCarthy, OBE JP, Financial Secretary, Cayman Islands, January 2001
 
Statement by Terepai Maoate, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, at the High-Level Consultations on the OECD’s Harmful Tax Competition Initiative, Barbados, 8-9 January 2001
 
The Case for an International Protocol on Information Sharing, by Robert Mathavious, former CFATF Chairman and Director of Financial Services, British Virgin Islands, 7 December 2000

     

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 Key Documents
 
Anguilla commits to OECD, will work on level playing field with ITIO members in Global Tax Forum - Press release and commitment letter
 
Antigua and Barbuda commits to OECD - Letter and Annexe
 
Bahamas statement on agreement reached with OECD
 
Belize commits to OECD - Letter and Annexe
 
British Virgin Islands finalises agreement with OECD - Press statement and commitment letter
 
Cayman Islands makes advance commitment to the OECD - Letter
 
Cook Islands makes conditional commitment to OECD - Media statement and commitment letter
 
St Kitts & Nevis commits to OECD - Letter and Annexe
 
St Lucia reaches agreement with OECD - OECD statement and press release agreed with OECD, with Annexe
 
Turks & Caicos Islands commits to OECD - Letter and Annexe
 


Vanuatu will not commit to OECD harmful tax competition initiative - Press release
 
ITIO letter to OECD asking for commitment to level playing field, 12 February 2002
  
The 17 fundamental clarifications sought from the OECD on 28 February 2001

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  Analysis
  

Information Exchange and Global Economic Regulation: For Whose Benefit? - Dr Terry Dwyer, Australian National University.
 
Global Competition in Offshore Business Services: Prospects for Developing Countries - Rajiv Biswas, Commonwealth Secretariat
 
Offshore Financial Centres and the Supranationals: Collision or Cohabitation? - Richard J Hay, Stikeman Elliott (Chase Journal, September 2001)
 
WTO Compatibility of the OECD ‘Defensive Measures’ against ‘Harmful Tax Competition’ - Dr Roman Grynberg and Ms Bridget Chilala, Commonwealth Secretariat, September 2001
 
Potential WTO Claims in Response to Countermeasures under the OECD’s Recommendations Applicable to Alleged Tax Havens - Stephen J. Orava, Baker & McKenzie, October 2001
 
Think Again: Money Laundering - Nigel Morris-Cotterill (Foreign Policy, May-June 2001)
 
The OECD, Harmful Tax Competition And Tax Havens: Towards An Understanding Of The International Legal Context - Professor William Gilmore, Faculty of Law University of Edinburgh. (from Commonwealth Secretariat website)
 
The Implications of The OECD Harmful Tax Competition Initiative for Offshore Financial Centres Paper - Commonwealth Secretariat (from Commonwealth Secretariat website)
 
OECD Curbs on International Financial Centres: a Major Issue for Small States - B Persaud (from Commonwealth Secretariat website)
 
The OECD "Harmful Tax Competition" Initiative - Michael P Devereux (from Commonwealth Secretariat website)

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