Most participants also reaffirmed their commitment to the exchange of information on tax issues and agreed they needed to continue discussions to establish bilateral mechanisms for it to be effective.

A level playing field at the global level when it comes to taxation is essentially a question of fairness, participants agreed. More progress is needed, particularly in finding ways to involve significant financial centres that are not as yet participating in the Global Forum process. A small group of participants will be set up to develop proposals for the Global Forum to move forward with this work, and report back in April 2004.

©OECD Observer No 240/241, December 2003