Finance ministers of German-speaking countries hope for OECD deal on digital tax

VIENNA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — Finance ministers of German-speaking countries expressed their hope here on Tuesday that there will be an agreement on a digital tax at the the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) level in autumn.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said he was “very confident at the moment” that an international agreement would be reached at a press conference after a two-day meeting with his German-speaking counterparts in Vienna, the Austrian capital.

“That will prevent a global conflict over the digital tax from breaking out,” he said.

Especially now in the crisis, everyone has learned that an international system can only come about with fairness, said the German minister, adding that taxes have to be paid where there are economic activities.

“A level-playing field at international level is needed,” said Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blumel, emphasizing that a multinational approach is preferable.

“A common solution is needed, especially on the digital level,” said Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna. “The OECD is of course the right place.” Enditem