US, EU officials downplay risk of 'tax war'

An Apple logo is seen on a flag on the facade of the Apple Store in Paris, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

DUBLIN: Senior US and EU officials played down the risk that probes into US firms' tax dealings could lead to a trans-Atlantic tax war, saying both sides were engaging closely to avoid an escalation. 

The United States Treasury Department has accused European Union antitrust officials of singling out US companies like Apple and Amazon in a series of probes into tax deals with European governments.