[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2] [Senate] [Pages 1541-1544] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF COMMITTEE--TREATIES The following executive reports of committee were submitted: By Mr. CORKER, from the Committee on Foreign Relations: Treaty Doc. 112-1: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation (Ex. Rept. 114-1); Treaty Doc. 113-4: The Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with Spain (Ex. Rept. 114-2); Treaty Doc. 113-5: Convention on Taxes with the Republic of Poland (Ex. Rept. 114-3); Treaty Doc. 112-8: Tax Convention with Chile (Ex. Rept. 114-4); Treaty Doc. 114-1: Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with Japan (Ex. Rept. 114-5); Treaty Doc. 111-8: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Luxembourg (Ex. Rept. 114-6); Treaty Doc. 111-7: Tax Convention with Hungary (Ex. Rept. 114-7); and Treaty Doc. 112-5: Protocol Amending the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (Ex. Rept. 114-8). The text of the committee-recommended resolutions of advice and consent to ratification are as follows: [Treaty Doc. 112-1 Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Swiss Confederation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation With Respect to Taxes on Income, signed at Washington October 2, 1996, signed September 23, 2009, at Washington, with a related agreement effected by an exchange of notes September 23, 2009, as corrected by an exchange of notes effected November 16, 2010 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 112-1), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Protocol is self-executing. Section 3. Conditions The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following conditions: (1) Not later than 2 years after the Protocol enters into force and prior to the first arbitration conducted pursuant to the binding arbitration mechanism provided for in the Protocol, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transmit to the Committees on Finance and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Joint Committee on Taxation the text of the rules of procedure applicable to arbitration panels, including conflict of interest rules to be applied to members of the arbitration panel. (2)(A) Not later than 60 days after a determination has been reached by an arbitration panel in the tenth arbitration proceeding conducted pursuant to the Protocol or any of the treaties described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, subject to laws relating to taxpayer confidentiality, a detailed report regarding the operation and application of the arbitration mechanism contained in the Protocol and such treaties. The report shall include the following information: (i) For the Protocol and each such treaty, the aggregate number of cases pending on the respective dates of entry into force of the Protocol and each treaty, including the following information: (I) The number of such cases by treaty article or articles at issue. (II) The number of such cases that have been resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement as of the date of the report. (III) The number of such cases for which arbitration proceedings have commenced as of the date of the report. (ii) A list of every case presented to the competent authorities after the entry into force of the Protocol and each such treaty, including the following information regarding each case: (I) The commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (II) Whether the adjustment triggering the case, if any, was made by the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (III) Which treaty the case relates to. (IV) The treaty article or articles at issue in the case. (V) The date the case was resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement, if so resolved. (VI) The date on which an arbitration proceeding commenced, if an arbitration proceeding commenced. (VII) The date on which a determination was reached by the arbitration panel, if a determination was reached, and an indication as to whether the panel found in favor of the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (iii) With respect to each dispute submitted to arbitration and for which a determination was reached by the arbitration [[Page 1542]] panel pursuant to the Protocol or any such treaty, the following information: (I) In the case of a dispute submitted under the Protocol, an indication as to whether the presenter of the case to the competent authority of a Contracting State submitted a Position Paper for consideration by the arbitration panel. (II) An indication as to whether the determination of the arbitration panel was accepted by each concerned person. (III) The amount of income, expense, or taxation at issue in the case as determined by reference to the filings that were sufficient to set the commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (IV) The proposed resolutions (income, expense, or taxation) submitted by each competent authority to the arbitration panel. (B) The treaties referred to in subparagraph (A) are-- (i) the 2006 Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, done at Berlin June 1, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 109-20) (the ``2006 German Protocol''); (ii) 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, done at Brussels July 9, 1970 (the ``Belgium Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 110-3); (iii) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed at Washington September 26, 1980 (the ``2007 Canada Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 110-15); (iv) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed at Paris August 31, 1994 (the ``2009 France Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 111-4). (3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit the detailed report required under paragraph (2) on March 1 of the year following the year in which the first report is submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and on an annual basis thereafter for a period of five years. In each such report, disputes that were resolved, either by a mutual agreement between the relevant competent authorities or by a determination of an arbitration panel, and noted as such in prior reports may be omitted. (4) The reporting requirements referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) supersede the reporting requirements contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 3 of the resolution of advice and consent to ratification of the 2009 France Protocol, approved by the Senate on December 3, 2009. [Treaty Doc. 113-4 The Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with Spain] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income and its Protocol, signed at Madrid on February 22, 1990, and a related Memorandum of Understanding signed on January 14, 2013, at Madrid, together with correcting notes dated July 23, 2013, and January 31, 2014 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 113-4), subject to the declaration of section 2 and the conditions of section 3. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Protocol is self-executing. Section 3. Conditions The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following conditions: (1) Not later than 2 years after the Protocol enters into force and prior to the first arbitration conducted pursuant to the binding arbitration mechanism provided for in the Protocol, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transmit to the Committees on Finance and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Joint Committee on Taxation the text of the rules of procedure applicable to arbitration panels, including conflict of interest rules to be applied to members of the arbitration panel. (2)(A) Not later than 60 days after a determination has been reached by an arbitration panel in the tenth arbitration proceeding conducted pursuant to the Protocol or any of the treaties described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, subject to laws relating to taxpayer confidentiality, a detailed report regarding the operation and application of the arbitration mechanism contained in the Protocol and such treaties. The report shall include the following information: (i) For the Protocol and each such treaty, the aggregate number of cases pending on the respective dates of entry into force of the Protocol and each treaty, including the following information: (I) The number of such cases by treaty article or articles at issue. (II) The number of such cases that have been resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement as of the date of the report. (III) The number of such cases for which arbitration proceedings have commenced as of the date of the report. (ii) A list of every case presented to the competent authorities after the entry into force of the Protocol and each such treaty, including the following information regarding each case: (I) The commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (II) Whether the adjustment triggering the case, if any, was made by the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (III) Which treaty the case relates to. (IV) The treaty article or articles at issue in the case. (V) The date the case was resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement, if so resolved. (VI) The date on which an arbitration proceeding commenced, if an arbitration proceeding commenced. (VII) The date on which a determination was reached by the arbitration panel, if a determination was reached, and an indication as to whether the panel found in favor of the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (iii) With respect to each dispute submitted to arbitration and for which a determination was reached by the arbitration panel pursuant to the Protocol or any such treaty, the following information: (I) In the case of a dispute submitted under the Protocol, an indication as to whether the presenter of the case to the competent authority of a Contracting State submitted a Position Paper for consideration by the arbitration panel. (II) An indication as to whether the determination of the arbitration panel was accepted by each concerned person. (III) The amount of income, expense, or taxation at issue in the case as determined by reference to the filings that were sufficient to set the commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (IV) The proposed resolutions (income, expense, or taxation) submitted by each competent authority to the arbitration panel. (B) The treaties referred to in subparagraph (A) are-- (i) the 2006 Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, done at Berlin June 1, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 109-20) (the ``2006 German Protocol''); (ii) 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, done at Brussels July 9, 1970 (the ``Belgium Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 110-3); (iii) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed at Washington September 26, 1980 (the ``2007 Canada Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 110-15); or (iv) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed at Paris August 31, 1994 (the ``2009 France Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 111-4). (3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit the detailed report required under paragraph (2) on March 1 of the year following the year in which the first report is submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and on an annual basis thereafter for a period of five years. In each such report, disputes that were resolved, either by a mutual agreement between the relevant competent authorities or by a determination of an arbitration panel, and noted as such in prior reports may be omitted. (4) The reporting requirements referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) supersede the reporting requirements contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 3 of the resolution of advice and consent to ratification of the 2009 France Protocol, approved by the Senate on December 3, 2009. [Treaty Doc. 113-5 Convention on Taxes with the Republic of Poland] Section. 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Poland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion [[Page 1543]] with Respect to Taxes on Income, signed on February 13, 2013, at Warsaw (the ``Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 113-5), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. [Treaty Doc. 112-8 Tax Convention with Chile] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Chile for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed at Washington February 4, 2010, with a Protocol and a related agreement effected by exchange of notes February 4, 2010, as corrected by exchanges of notes effected February 25, 2011, and February 10 and 21, 2012 (the ``Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 112-8), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. [Treaty Doc. 114-1 Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with Japan] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and a related agreement entered into by an exchange of notes (together with the ``proposed protocol''), both signed on January 24, 2013, at Washington, together with correcting notes exchanged March 9 and March 29, 2013 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 114-1), subject to the declaration of section 2 and the conditions of section 3. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. Section 3. Conditions The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following conditions: (1) Not later than 2 years after the Protocol enters into force and prior to the first arbitration conducted pursuant to the binding arbitration mechanism provided for in the Protocol, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transmit to the Committees on Finance and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Joint Committee on Taxation the text of the rules of procedure applicable to arbitration panels, including conflict of interest rules to be applied to members of the arbitration panel. (2)(A) Not later than 60 days after a determination has been reached by an arbitration panel in the tenth arbitration proceeding conducted pursuant to the Protocol or any of the treaties described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, subject to laws relating to taxpayer confidentiality, a detailed report regarding the operation and application of the arbitration mechanism contained in the Protocol and such treaties. The report shall include the following information: (i) For the Protocol and each such treaty, the aggregate number of cases pending on the respective dates of entry into force of the Protocol and each treaty, including the following information: (I) The number of such cases by treaty article or articles at issue. (II) The number of such cases that have been resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement as of the date of the report. (III) The number of such cases for which arbitration proceedings have commenced as of the date of the report. (ii) A list of every case presented to the competent authorities after the entry into force of the Protocol and each such treaty, including the following information regarding each case: (I) The commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (II) Whether the adjustment triggering the case, if any, was made by the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (III) Which treaty the case relates to. (IV) The treaty article or articles at issue in the case. (V) The date the case was resolved by the competent authorities through a mutual agreement, if so resolved. (VI) The date on which an arbitration proceeding commenced, if an arbitration proceeding commenced. (VII) The date on which a determination was reached by the arbitration panel, if a determination was reached, and an indication as to whether the panel found in favor of the United States or the relevant treaty partner. (iii) With respect to each dispute submitted to arbitration and for which a determination was reached by the arbitration panel pursuant to the Protocol or any such treaty, the following information: (I) In the case of a dispute submitted under the Protocol, an indication as to whether the presenter of the case to the competent authority of a Contracting State submitted a Position Paper for consideration by the arbitration panel. (II) An indication as to whether the determination of the arbitration panel was accepted by each concerned person. (III) The amount of income, expense, or taxation at issue in the case as determined by reference to the filings that were sufficient to set the commencement date of the case for purposes of determining when arbitration is available. (IV) The proposed resolutions (income, expense, or taxation) submitted by each competent authority to the arbitration panel. (B) The treaties referred to in subparagraph (A) are-- (i) the 2006 Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, done at Berlin June 1, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 109-20) (the ``2006 German Protocol''); (ii) 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, done at Brussels July 9, 1970 (the ``Belgium Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 110-3); (iii) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed at Washington September 26, 1980 (the ``2007 Canada Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 110-15); or (iv) the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed at Paris August 31, 1994 (the ``2009 France Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 111-4). (3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit the detailed report required under paragraph (2) on March 1 of the year following the year in which the first report is submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and on an annual basis thereafter for a period of five years. In each such report, disputes that were resolved, either by a mutual agreement between the relevant competent authorities or by a determination of an arbitration panel, and noted as such in prior reports may be omitted. (4) The reporting requirements referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) supersede the reporting requirements contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 3 of the resolution of advice and consent to ratification of the 2009 France Protocol, approved by the Senate on December 3, 2009. [Treaty Doc. 111-8 Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Luxembourg] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed on May 20, 2009, at Luxembourg with a related agreement effected by exchange of notes also signed on May 20, 2009 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 111- 8), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. [Treaty Doc. 111-7 Tax Convention with Hungary] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Hungary for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, signed at Budapest February 4, 2010, with a related agreement effected by exchange of notes on February 4, 2010 (the ``Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 111-7), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. [Treaty Doc. 112-5 Protocol Amending the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters] Section 1. Senate Advice and Consent Subject to a Declaration The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the Protocol Amending the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, done at Paris May [[Page 1544]] 27, 2010 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 112-5), subject to the declaration of section 2. Section 2. Declaration The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is subject to the following declaration: The Convention is self-executing. ____________________