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New York UN

EXPLANATION OF VOTE BY MS. LIAN HUI, DELEGATE TO THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFTER THE VOTE ON DRAFT RESOLUTION A/78/XX “PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE AND EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL TAX COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS” AT THE 79TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECOND COMMITTEE 27 NOVEMBER 2024

27 November 2024

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Thank you, Mr Chair.

We would like to express our appreciation to the African Group for tabling this draft resolution, and to Angola for facilitating the negotiations.

2 Singapore recognises that the negotiations have not been easy, as there were deeply divergent positions on many issues. But delegations have also demonstrated a strong desire to ensure that a strong foundation is built for the way forward to achieve a stable, coherent and predictable international tax landscape.

3 Singapore’s consistent position has not changed. We remain committed to inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and believe that multilateral solutions and collective actions are important to this end. We are also committed to working closely with all delegations in the ensuing process to secure the best possible outcome for all.

4 That said, we continue to have some concerns. Singapore firmly believes that a decision-making modality that garners collective agreement will produce solutions that are more effective in addressing the challenges that developing countries are facing. For this reason, we strongly believe that every effort to achieve consensus in this process must be made. Tax rules decided by a simple majority risk the further fragmentation of the international tax landscape as they will be challenged by those who disagree. Tax is a sovereign, important, and highly complex matter. The intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) must recognise it as such and seriously discuss and agree on the decision-making rules for its work. We are encouraged that this resolution has mandated a dedicated space for us to have this discussion at the organisational session, and it is for this reason that Singapore voted “YES” on the resolution. We urge all delegations to seriously consider the implications of this issue.

5 We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we will need time to carefully consider the many parts of the framework convention. Given the enormity of the agenda, we also appeal for more time to be given during the organisational session, so that delegations can map out this undertaking, including decision making rules, the topic of the second early protocol, and how the workstreams for the framework convention and early protocols will be designed and interact. This will be a unique and difficult undertaking, and we should be prepared to invest more time in order to achieve an outcome that meets our needs.

6 We have an opportunity to move forward together in a spirit of trust and understanding. Singapore remains committed to participating constructively in this next phase.

Thank you.