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Joseph Lee: Companies should arrange APAs after a transfer pricing audit The People's Republic of China plans to release an advanced pricing agreement (APA) programme, possibly before the end of 2003.

Ton Kemp of Linklaters outlines how taxpayers can take advantage of the new reforms

Stephan Baumann of Deloitte & Touche warns that even though Switzerland's lump-sum tax credit system may relieve the burden of double taxation, the complex procedures demand a cautious approach

Marks & Spencer's head of tax, Philip Martin explains his uncanny affection

On December 11 2003 the Mexican Congress began debating controversial reforms to gradually reduce corporate taxes to 30% by 2006. There were angry demonstrations over plans to slap an 8% tax on all goods that are now exempt from taxation, including food and medicine.

John Stine, formerly a tax partner at Ernst & Young, has joined the independent tax and accounting firm Smart and Associates. Stine's practice focuses on venture-backed businesses and wealth management.

The Treasury announced that Robert Carroll was appointed deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis on November 28 2003. Carroll will provide economic advice and analysis for the office of tax policy with regard to all aspects of the economics of federal taxation.

Andrea Silvestri: Law firms handle high-end tax transactions Two Italian law firms have significantly expanded their tax practices to plug a perceived gap in the market for international tax services. Studio Legale Sutti opened a new tax office in Milan while Bonelli Erede Pappalardo poached international tax specialist Andrea Silvestri from Deloitte & Touche in Boston to lead their newly-formed tax group.

Three months after the landmark signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and China, the two governments have signed six annexes further clarifying the terms of the arrangement. The arrangement covers three broad areas - trade in goods, trade in services, and trade and investment facilitation. For trade in goods, from January 1 2004 the CEPA permits exports of Hong Kong origin from 273 tariff classes to enjoy zero tariffs, as long as they meet CEPA rules-of-origin requirements. Included in the 270 classes are electrical and electronic products, textiles and clothing, jewelry and cosmetics. China has also agreed to apply a zero import tariff upon applications by local manufacturers for other tariff classes maintained in China's tariff system that meet the CEPA rules of origin. It will do this by January 1 2006 at the latest.

Belgian taxpayers could receive a tax amnesty to regularize their undeclared offshore savings. Marc Quaghebeur of Vandendijk & Partners reveals how