G8 leaders seek deal to curb tax evasion_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

G8 leaders seek deal to curb tax evasion

Many of the world's leading companies, ranging from Apple to the management company of U2, employ complex corporate structures involving multiple subsidiaries in several countries to minimize the tax bills in their home nation. One such maneuver, called the "double Irish with a Dutch sandwich" allows foreign companies to send profits through one Irish company, then to a Dutch company and finally to a second nominally Irish company that is headquartered in a usually British tax haven.

The US said it was committed to reforming the global accounting rules and collecting more of US companies' profits banked outside US shores.

"The goal of cracking down on tax avoidance, bringing greater transparency to it, this is something we've pursued in the US, and we agree with Prime Minister Cameron that we can work together multilaterally to promote approaches that achieve those objectives," said Ben Rhodes, US President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser.

Meanwhile, G8 leaders have agreed to stamp out the payment of ransoms for hostages kidnapped by "terrorists", Cameron's office said on Tuesday.

Downing Street said the world leaders would also call on companies to follow their lead in refusing to pay for the release of abductees.

"Leaders agree to stamp out payment of ransoms to terrorists and call on companies to follow their lead," Cameron's office said on its Twitter feed.

British officials said Cameron had been keen to push the deal because funds raised by ransom payments were the main source of funding for terror groups, especially those in North Africa.