2026
EU Parliament Pushes for Tax Inclusion in Corporate Reform Bill
The European Union needs to be more ambitious in its aims to simplify rules for businesses, including by reforming the bloc’s tax system, according to Ludovit Odor, a European representative from Slovakia.
Trying to Make Sense of the U.S. Strategy at the United Nations
Professor Herzfeld examines the United States’ withdrawal from United Nations tax negotiations, contending that while U.S. objections to the process are valid, nonparticipation diminishes its capacity to influence the development of international tax norms. Herzfeld further explains that the U.N.’s framework convention initiatives, the Sevilla commitments, and the Tax Committee agenda collectively promote a shift toward greater source-based taxation, particularly regarding cross-border services, digital activities, and permanent establishment rules. This positions the U.N. tax project as a significant competitor to the OECD-centered system and suggests that continued U.S. nonparticipation may weaken dispute resolution mechanisms, deter foreign direct investment, and erode long-term U.S. economic influence abroad.
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Fees for seas: a history of taxing waterways
Iran’s proposal to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz reflects a broader historical pattern of states attempting to monetize control over key maritime chokepoints. The article traces similar practices from Ottoman and European regimes, highlighting how tolling waterways has long been tied to assertions of sovereignty and economic leverage. The current situation raises significant questions under international maritime law, particularly regarding the legality of charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation, and underscores the geopolitical and economic risks such measures pose to global energy markets and shipping.
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Trump Administration Returns to Court for Yet Another Tariff Lawsuit
This article examines ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s tariffs on imports, highlighting disputes over executive authority and trade policy. The litigation reflects broader tensions in international economic law and raises questions about the use of tariffs as quasi-tax instruments in cross-border regulation.
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New Tax Disclosure Regimes Still Leave Gaps in Information (1)
New corporate tax disclosures will provide investors with some answers to the persistent puzzle of where companies book their profits and pay their taxes—but some pieces of the puzzle are still going to be missing.
Pillar 2 and Related Benefits — The Case of the Swiss Canton of Zug
This article analyzes the development of post-pillar 2 business incentives in the Swiss canton of Zug, focusing on efforts to comply with GLOBE rules that prohibit related benefits and may jeopardize eligibility for a domestic minimum top-up tax. Wenz and Kaiser observe that Zug transitioned from income-based incentives to expenditure-based subsidies, although certain elements may continue to generate uncertainty during peer review. This case demonstrates the influence of pillar 2 on subnational tax competition and incentive strategies, especially in low-tax jurisdictions seeking to maintain competitiveness without risking disqualification under the OECD framework.
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‘Definitely a Sham’: As Tariffs Climb, Trade Fraud and Accounting Tricks Proliferate
This article examines how rising tariffs on Chinese imports have led to widespread trade fraud and accounting manipulation, as firms attempt to circumvent higher duties. It highlights practices such as misclassification of goods and rerouting through third countries, raising significant enforcement challenges. These developments are directly relevant to international tax and trade compliance, as tariff avoidance strategies often intersect with transfer pricing and customs valuation issues. The piece underscores how increased trade barriers can distort reporting and complicate cross-border regulatory enforcement.
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OpenAI’s Altman releases blueprint for taxing, regulating artificial intelligence
OpenAI published a policy blueprint for artificial intelligence recommending a revised social contract to prepare for the technology’s likely impact on the economy, workforce and overall state of humans.
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