In February, Patently Apple posted a report titled "U.S. Treasury Secretary Calls on the EU Commission to Reconsider their Tax Probes targeting U.S. Companies," followed by a report in March titled "U.S. Treasury Investigates Retaliatory Measures against the EU's Aggressive Investigation of Apple & Others." Obviously the letter sent by U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in February to the EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager fell on deaf ears. Today, Bloomberg reports that "Lew is now set to meet with Vestager as she prepares to deliver a final verdict on a probe into Apple's tax affairs in Ireland."

The Bloomberg report further noted that "The showdown comes days after Vestager's team delivered two possible scenarios on how much tax Apple owes in Ireland, according to two people familiar with the case, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. Lew has contacted Vestager urging her to avoid ordering any collection of back taxes from Apple, according to one of the people."

It seems, at present, by the Treasury Secretary's action that the EU Commissioner isn't Kowtowing to U.S. pressure to back off the Apple case. With the UK having rebuked the EU with their surprising Brexit vote last month, I rather doubt that the EU Commission is in any mood to be further bullied by the U.S. to further weaken its authority.

Time will tell if at the last minute they blink, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the EU Commission plows forward with a heavy fine levied on Apple.

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