US corporations urge European Union to overturn Apple tax decision

The heads at some of the most powerful corporations in the United States have urged the European Union to overturn its decision to demand €13bn in back taxes be paid from Apple to the Irish government.

The Business Roundtable includes the chief executive officers of 185 of the biggest US companies, including Walmart, ExxonMobil, JPMorgan and General Electric, and sent letters to European leaders asking for their intervention on the issue.

The group warned that commissioner Margrethe Vestager's decision could have far-reaching consequences, including scaring investment away from Europe.

Apple was ordered to repay the massive sum to Ireland earlier this month after an investigation concluded that the tech giant had underpaid tax on its income there.

A letter sent to German chancellor Angela Merkel was obtained by the Financial Times, and mentions that "in the interest of all countries that respect the rule of law, this decision must not be allowed to stand."

If the decision was to be followed through, it would be a "grievous self-inflicted wound", according to the Business Roundtable, and would "seriously undermine the sovereignty of EU member states over their own tax matters and the rule of law".

The Business Roundtable is chaired by Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman, with vice chairs representing Xerox, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin and Dow Chemical.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is not part of the group, but has previously described the ruling as "political crap".