WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government proposed a pause in Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development talks about international taxation while governments work to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury said.

Treasury spokeswoman Monica Crowley issued the statement late on Wednesday after a report that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had called for suspension of the talks in a June 12 letter to top officials in France, Spain, Britain and Italy.

“The United States has suggested a pause in the OECD talks on international taxation while governments around the world focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and safely reopening their economies,” she said.