Clinton would not discuss tax evasion issue with UBS in Swiss talks

According to a U.S. official, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to digress from discussing a U.S. tax evasion issue with UBS AG when she meets the Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Friday. And if the minister brought it up, Clinton would not discuss any of the details given that it is an ongoing court case.

The U.S. Justice Department is expected to go to court next week to demand enforcement of a summons ordering the Swiss bank to turn over the details of accounts suspected of being used by thousands of wealthy Americans to evade income taxes. Nevertheless, another administration official said the issue was likely to come up and that it was conceivable that Clinton would take the position that UBS should turn over the information sought by the Justice Department.

Stuart Gibson, the Justice Department attorney said in a conference call with the Florida federal court judge talks were under way between the parties to try to settle the dispute but no agreement had yet been reached. Judge Alan Gold presiding over the case has agreed to hold another status conference on Friday, to allow the parties to see whether a deal could be reached or an additional delay was necessary.

The trial against UBS was originally set to begin in Miami on July 13, but Gold agreed to delay it until August 3 to allow time for a settlement.