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“REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 110-3” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S8270 on June 21, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 110-3
Ms. KLOBUCHAR. 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 June 21, 2007, by the President of the United States: Tax Convention with Belgium, Treaty Document No. 110-3.
I further ask unanimous consent 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 message of the President is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith, for Senate advice and consent to ratification, the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, and accompanying Protocol, signed on November 27, 2006, at Brussels (the ``proposed Treaty''). The proposed Treaty will replace the existing income tax treaty between the two countries that was concluded in 1970 and amended by protocol in 1987. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect to the proposed Treaty.
The proposed Treaty eliminates the withholding tax on certain cross-
border dividend payments, including dividend payments to pension funds. The proposed Treaty also provides for mandatory arbitration of certain cases brought before the competent authorities. This provision is only the second of its kind in a proposed U.S. tax treaty. In addition, the proposed Treaty includes provisions, consistent with current U.S. tax-
treaty policy, that are designed to prevent so-called treaty shopping.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the proposed Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.
George W. Bush. The White House, June 21, 2007.
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