U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

10/22/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2021 21:12

Crapo, Brady: Biden Administration Retreated by Failing to Demand Immediate Repeal of Competitors’ Discriminatory Taxes

October 22,2021

Crapo, Brady: Biden Administration Retreated by Failing to Demand Immediate Repeal of Competitors' Discriminatory Taxes

Washington, D.C.--In a joint statement, Congress's top Republican tax writers, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and House Committee on Ways and Means Republican Leader Representative Kevin Brady (R-Texas) blasted the Biden Administration's surrender to foreign competitors' discriminatory digital services taxes:

"Rather than preserving our ability to protect American businesses and jobs, the Biden Administration is surrendering once again to our foreign competitors to further their objective of raising taxes on Americans. Worse, the Administration is pressuring Congress to accept its demands by letting foreign nations discriminate against our businesses and workers until it does so.

"The Biden Administration is claiming victory despite a bipartisan consensus against foreign digital services taxes that unfairly target U.S. companies. A comprehensive U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) report determined these taxes are unreasonable and unfairly burden U.S. commerce.

"Instead of taking action, however, the Biden Administration retreated by failing to demand immediate repeal of discriminatory taxes, which will continue for years, if not indefinitely. The Administration simply settled for an empty promise--if we reform our tax laws to these countries' satisfaction, then they will grant U.S. businesses tax credits against future taxes."

In early October, Senator Crapo and Representative Brady warned that compelling Congress to take specific legislative action undermines Congress's taxing authority, and would ultimately make American companies less competitive globally. In September, Crapo and Brady sent a letter to their Democratic counterparts outlining serious concerns with the approach the Biden Administration has taken in international tax negotiations at the OECD. Crapo and Brady have consistently said the Administration should not negotiate for an agreement at the OECD that would target American companies or make them less competitive, ultimately resulting in fewer jobs, growth, and U.S. investment.

Further, Senator Crapo, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) have expressed serious concerns with the Administration's suggestions it is considering circumventing the Senate's constitutional treaty authority in implementing a global tax agreement.