Joint civil society and trade unions submission in response to the call for inputs to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation

The document argues for a UN-led global tax governance structure that is inclusive, transparent, and fair, specifically addressing the needs of developing countries. It proposes the establishment of a Conference of the Parties (COP), a neutral Secretariat, and public registries for tax policies, corporate transparency, and global assets. Substantive recommendations include replacing the current transfer pricing system with a global profit-based corporate tax system, implementing a minimum effective corporate tax rate, and introducing progressive taxes on the wealthiest individuals and fossil fuel corporations. The submission emphasizes the 'polluter pays principle' and the need for automatic information exchange that supports developing nations through non-reciprocal data receipt during transition periods.

• The proposed FCITC should establish a governance structure featuring a Conference of the Parties (COP) and a neutral Secretariat to ensure all countries participate on an equal footing, avoiding the duplication of existing processes.
• To monitor and support the convention, the submission suggests creating a UN public registry for tax and fiscal policies, a UN public registry for corporate transparency, and a global asset register, while incorporating the UN Expert Committee on International Cooperation in Tax Matters as a subsidiary body.
• The document advocates for a fundamental reform of corporate taxation to replace the 'failed' transfer pricing system with one based on global profit, including a minimum effective corporate tax rate and a fair reallocation of taxing rights to where business activity occurs.
• The submission calls for the adoption of an 'international single tax principle' to ensure multinational enterprises and individuals are taxed on worldwide income at least once, and only once, based on where real activities occur.
• Regarding environmental policy, the document proposes the 'polluter pays principle' and the promotion of progressive green taxes, including windfall profit taxes for fossil fuel corporations and the removal of harmful tax subsidies.
• The submission recommends a UN system for automatic information exchange (AIE) that includes a transition period allowing developing countries to receive information on a non-reciprocal basis.
• The authors argue for the taxation of the income and wealth of the richest to reverse falling tax rates and reduce extreme inequality, aligning with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
• The submission stresses that the FCITC must support the goals of other UN initiatives, specifically mentioning the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Sustainable Development Goals.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2024). Joint civil society and trade unions submission in response to the call for inputs to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Civil-Society-Financing-for-Development-Mechanism-submission.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. Joint civil society and trade unions submission in response to the call for inputs to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. 2024. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Civil-Society-Financing-for-Development-Mechanism-submission.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=Joint civil society and trade unions submission in response to the call for inputs to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation |date=15 March 2024 |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Civil-Society-Financing-for-Development-Mechanism-submission.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{instituteforeconomicjustice2024joint, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{Joint civil society and trade unions submission in response to the call for inputs to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Draft Terms of Reference for a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation}}, publisher = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Civil-Society-Financing-for-Development-Mechanism-submission.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }