
130 countries join U.S. push for global minimum tax on large corporations
CBSN
President Joe Biden's corporate tax plan got a boost Thursday, as 130 countries and jurisdictions signed on to an agreement that would implement a global minimum tax for companies. The administration says the agreement, the first major overhaul of international taxation in a century, will level the playing field and help American business compete.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who has been leading the United States push for a global minimum tax of at least 15%, called the announcement a historic day for economic diplomacy. "Today's agreement by 130 countries representing more than 90% of global GDP is a clear sign: The race to the bottom is one step closer to coming to an end. In its place, America will enter a competition that we can win; one judged on the skill of our workers and the strength of our infrastructure," Yellen said in a statement. "We have a chance now to build a global and domestic tax system that lets American workers and businesses compete and win in the world economy."
In the past year, over 135 million passengers traveled to the U.S. from other countries. To infectious disease experts, that represents 135 million chances for an outbreak to begin. To identify and stop the next potential pandemic, government disease detectives have been discreetly searching for viral pathogens in wastewater from airplanes. Experts are worried that these efforts may not be enough.