Pascal Saint-Amans: “What puts Ireland in jeopardy is the perception that Ireland charges 2 per cent.” Photograph: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images Irish tax regime is fair, says OECD director

Pascal Saint-Amans says Ireland competes fairly for foreign direct investment

Cantillon: The intricacies of the CCCTB proposal is a subject people don’t usually enjoy

Apparently, it’s just like taking candy from a child

Japan’s exports rise at fastest rate in two years

Growth gives government momentum to steer economy through rough markets

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso speaks at a news conference before the start of a G8 summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. Tax avoidance and Syria dominate G8

Eric Schmidt appealing to the G8 to simplify the international tax system

Apsley director Arshad Mahmood with the suit featuring 22-carat gold stitching, a gold waistcoat and diamond-encrusted gold buttons Asis Briefing: €100,000 for suit with gold stitching and diamond buttons

International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde called on the United States to “hurry up with putting in place a medium-term road map to restore long-run fiscal sustainability”. Photograph:  Reuters/Jose Luis Magana Stop using the future as an excuse for inaction on the US economy

Long-term fiscal projections should be seen mainly as especially boring science fiction

Asia Briefing: Urbanisation seen as answer to economic questions

Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton held bilateral meetings with EU trade ministers throughout yesterday in a bid to secure consensus on EU-US trade talks. Photograph: David Sleator Common EU position on trade talks with US agreed

French cultural sector a key issue in negotiations

High security: razor wire near Lough Erne, in advance of the G8 leaders’ arrival. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA The power of eight

The G8 economic club is losing influence in a fast-changing world. But next week’s summit at Lough Erne, in Co Fermanagh, is still the most powerful gathering ever in Ireland