OECD Global Forum Meeting in Melbourne a Standoff

On November 15-16, 2005, more than 130 representatives of 55 governments, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the European Commission met in Melbourne, Australia, to review progress towards a level playing field based on high standards of transparency and effective exchange of information for tax purposes. It concluded inconclusively with both the OECD and the so-called tax havens claiming victory. The OECD press release claims progress has been made towards achieving a level playing field while other observers claim that the meeting was essentially a standoff ? [more]