“Donald Trump has set the US on a collision course with Brussels yet again after the White House lodged a formal intervention on behalf of Apple ahead of an upcoming EU court case,” Nick Gutteridge reports for The Express. “According to US Government sources officials in Washington have actively intervened to help the computer giant’s appeal against a massive £11.5 billion fine imposed by eurocrats. ”
“Last year the EU’s competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, ruled that Apple had illegally avoided paying its dues in Europe via a sweetheart tax deal with Ireland,” Gutteridge reports. “Apple is appealing the ordered payment, which is backdated all the way to 2003, and now has a powerful ally for its upcoming hearing in the form of Mr Trump’s administration… Obama offered veiled criticism of the ruling at the time, but didn’t bring it up with other G20 leaders saying he would not usually intervene on behalf of a specific company. But according to sources Mr Trump’s administration has now done precisely that, and it is understood officials are backing Apple’s case by seeking a prominent role in the appeal.”
“Apple has claimed that it was a convenient target for the European Union and that the EU competition enforcer used an ‘absurd theory’ in order to come up with a punitive figure,” Gutteridge reports. “The case, which will come before judges at the ECJ’s General Court, is expected to be heard late next year, another source with knowledge of the matter said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The whole thing is absurd.
Is Ireland its own country or merely a vassal state to a quasi-governmental political confederation that’s already been hit with one very significant defection?
Margrethe Vestager is a fool who’s in way over her head. — MacDailyNews, September 1, 2016
Now, to be fair, this is only because poor Margrethe is an idiot politician. Go back to Denmark, honey, you’re in over your head – unless your agenda is to destroy the EU from the inside out, in which case: Carry on, you’re doing a hell of a job! — MacDailyNews, September 2, 2016
Anyone who decides to set up a business in a European Union member country today is insane. — MacDailyNews, August 30, 2016
SEE ALSO:
EU Commissioner Vestager: Ireland ‘taking too long’ to recover Apple tax – May 19, 2017
EU’s hypocritical Margrethe Vestager going after Apple while backing Madeira tax avoidance scheme – February 14, 2017
Apple has missed the deadline to pay $13.9 billion to Ireland in illegal tax benefits – January 31, 2017
Apple CFO Maestri: What the EC is doing here is a disgrace for European citizens, it should be ashamed’ – December 19, 2016
Apple’s EU tax nemesis Margrethe Vestager takes aim at other U.S. companies’ offshore profits – September 19, 2016
The ‘Brexit-Apple’ connection: What in the world was Margrethe Vestager thinking? – September 12, 2016
EU ministers line up to take tax bites out of Apple – September 12, 2016
Former EU competition commissioner: Vestager claim that Apple owes back taxes an incorrect use of EU law – September 2, 2016
Irish government to fight EU on Apple tax – September 2, 2016
Treasury accuses EU of trying to steal U.S. tax revenues with Apple decision – September 1, 2016
Irish residents opposed to EU’s tax demand of Apple – September 1, 2016
Apple Inc. pushes back against EU tax grab – September 1, 2016
Apple may repatriate billions of dollars next year after new U.S. President takes office – September 1, 2016
U.S. tax code allows for dramatic retaliation against EU overreach in Apple case – September 1, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook on EU tax demand: ‘No one did anything wrong here and Ireland is being picked on… It is total political crap’ – September 1, 2016
U.S. Treasury: The European Commission’s retroactive tax demands on Apple are unfair – August 30, 2016
EU demands Apple pay massive $14.5 billion in taxes plus interest – August 30, 2016
U.S. government warns EU: Do not hit Apple with a massive back tax bill – or else – August 25, 2016