A special conference took place last month on the 50th anniversary of the OECD Model Tax Convention. A remark by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General that harmonising tax systems through the creation of a single worldwide tax system, or even an OECD wide system, is not on the agenda, is welcome.

The Secretary General specifically commented that few countries are prepared to give up their fiscal sovereignty, even in integrated trade blocks like the European Union. He suggested that co-operation is required to ensure that taxes do not become the last barrier to expanding cross-border trade and investment, but also to ensure that taxpayers pay the right amount of tax, at the right time and in the right country.

The full text of his speech is available at http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,3343,en_2649_37427_41269572_1_1_1_
1,00.html.