Washington (AFP)

Put on the table by the US Treasury, backed by the IMF and hailed by countries like France and Germany, the prospect is getting closer to establishing a minimum corporate tax rate globally.

This reform, which aims to put an end to tax competition between countries, will be on the menu of the virtual meeting of the G20's major financiers from Wednesday with perhaps the prospect of an agreement by the meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of member countries on July 9 and 10.

The idea, already promoted by the OECD, was recently adopted by the American Minister of Finance Janet Yellen, while the Democratic administration, to finance a massive infrastructure plan, seeks the United States to raise taxes on companies that had been severely demeaned by Donald Trump.

"A global agreement on international taxation is now within reach" after this American proposal, welcomed Tuesday the French Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, calling to "seize this historic opportunity".

"We welcome the support of the United States for a minimum taxation of corporate income tax. We also hope to be able to move forward with (Secretary of the Treasury, editor's note) Janet Yellen on the taxation of digital services to reach a comprehensive agreement at the OECD level next summer, "Le Maire added in a statement to AFP.

- A breakthrough -

Germany also welcomed this progress on Tuesday, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declared itself in favor of this reform of international taxation to adapt it in particular to the digital age.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz called the US proposal a "breakthrough" and deemed "now realistic that we agree to this year".

The European Commission also welcomed Ms Yellen's comments, hoping that they "will give new impetus towards an agreement on a consensual global solution by the summer".

Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said the bloc called on "all global partners to remain engaged in these discussions and to continue work without delay."

Janet Yellen said on Monday that the United States was working "with the G20 countries to agree on a minimum corporate tax rate."

The objective, according to her: "To put an end to this race to the bottom", which the countries are engaged in which, to attract companies to their territory and guarantee them a competitive environment, offer companies ever higher tax rates. weak.

The reform of this international tax system concerns two aspects: the establishment of a world minimum rate, and a system aimed at modulating corporate tax according to the profits made in each country, regardless of their tax establishment, the latter section concerning particularly multinational tech companies.

The amount of this minimum rate envisaged is unofficial, thresholds ranging from 12.5% ​​to 21% being mentioned.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also said on Tuesday it was in favor of imposing a minimum global corporate tax.

Governments face large-scale tax evasion and the transfer of money to tax havens, which "concerns us very much" because it "reduces the tax base on which governments can collect revenues and spend social and economic needs, ”explained Gita Gopinath, the IMF's chief economist.

"We are therefore very much in favor of an overall minimum corporate tax," she added.

© 2021 AFP