The new head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, said that the Joe Biden government’s approach to a global minimum corporate tax has changed the rules of the game and that he is optimistic that a consensus will be found. .
“I think we are in a much better position than at the end of last year,” Cormann said when questioning whether he thought a corporate tax deal could be reached before the end of the year.
“I am quietly optimistic that with the level of goodwill that everyone demonstrated during today’s meeting, if we can continue to carry that forward, there will be an opportunity for a sensible consensus,” he added after a meeting of the OECD ministerial council.
The new secretary general also advocated the market economy and competition, which he considers “inevitable” and describes as a “powerful engine of progress, innovation and improvement of living standards.”
Using cautious language, he said he wanted to establish “the best possible relationship with China.” But “we will have to defend our values when necessary,” he stressed.
On ecology, he limited himself to stating that “more and more countries promised to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible and no later than 2050.”
“The challenge we face is how to make these commitments a reality and achieve our goal in an economically responsible and opinion-acceptable way, without leaving anyone behind,” he added.
The OECD works to boost economic growth and international trade and its 38 member countries account for 60% of world economic output.
With information from Reuters and AFP
