Hopes of a deal to boost the world economy at next week’s Group of Eight summit were in the balance last night, as France and Canada resisted a last-minute push for an ambitious trade and tax package.
France’s refusal to include its film industry in EU-US trade negotiations has thrown into doubt plans to launch talks on Monday, when European leaders meet Barack Obama, US president, at the summit in Northern Ireland.
Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, is also resisting – partly on the grounds of tax confidentiality – plans to crack down on aggressive tax avoidance and evasion by requiring the disclosure of the ultimate owner of shell companies.