[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 99 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8400-S8401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      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

[[Page S8401]]

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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