PARIS (Reuters). – The global digital tax agreement might not be finalized until 2023 or 2024 according to Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister. This is a significant delay in the implementation of the reform.

Officials had expected to approve the deal in the middle of the year. It aims to transfer rights to tax large digital companies like Apple (NASDAQ) and Google (NASDAQ) to countries that have the end customers.

This is one of the two main pillars in a massive overhaul of rules for cross-border taxesation. It also includes plans to establish a minimum global corporate tax at 15% on large multinationals.

After chairing a Brussels meeting of EU finance ministers, Le Maire stated that Pillar I – digital taxes – is important and that he would not hesitate to make efforts to persuade the international community as well as the members of OECD.

Le Maire stated, “It may be 2023’s end, or the start of 2024. But the important point is to reform the international tax system.”

Nearly 140 nations agreed to last October to reform international taxation, setting the 2023 deadline.