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“REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-25” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S8400-S8401 on July 16, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-25
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on July 16, 2004, by the President of the United States:
Protocol Amending Tax Convention with the Netherlands (Treaty Document 108-25.)
I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed, and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The President's message is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith for Senate advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, signed at Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2004. Transmitted for the Senate's information is an exchange of notes with an attached Understanding, which provides clarification with respect to the application of the Convention, as amended, in specific cases. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect to the Protocol.
The Protocol would bring the existing Convention into closer conformity with current U.S. tax treaty policy. As modified by the Protocol, the Convention would be similar to tax treaties between the United States and other developed nations. The Protocol was concluded in recognition of the importance of the United States' economic relations with the Netherlands.
The Protocol would modify the treatment of certain cross-border dividend payments and would modernize the Convention's anti-treaty-
shopping provisions. The Protocol also would liberalize provisions in the existing Convention regarding the mutual recognition of each country's pension plans. Other provisions in the Protocol update the Convention to take account of changes in law in the two countries over the last 10 years. The exchange of notes with an attached Understanding provides guidance to taxpayers and each government regarding the intended interpretation of certain provisions of the existing Convention, as amended.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to this Protocol, and that the Senate give its advice and consent to ratification.
George W. Bush.
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