Britain on Saturday struck a deal with its overseas territories clamping down on tax evasion, giving Prime Minister David Cameron a stronger hand as he prepares to host a G8 summit focusing on trade, tax and financial transparency.
The two-day summit at a luxury resort in Northern Ireland, which starts on Monday, will also centre on the Syria conflict.
During pre-G8 talks at his Downing Street office, Cameron reached an agreement with territories such as the Cayman Islands and the crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which are often seen as tax havens.
They agreed a series of actions aimed at promoting transparency and exchange of information between tax jurisdictions.
“It is a very positive step forward and it means that Britain’s voice in the G8 and the campaigning on this issue around the world for proper taxes, proper companies and proper laws … will be stronger,” Cameron said afterwards.
“Let’s be clear why this tax issue matters. If companies don’t pay their taxes or individual.
