ABC News notes that Apple issued an advance copy of Cook’s testimony last night. In its 17 pages of self-defense, Cook declares that his company “does not use tax gimmicks” and paid almost $6 billion in U.S. taxes last year, making it “likely the largest corporate income tax payer in the U.S.” He adds that Apple’s effective tax rate for 2012 was approximately 30.5 percent. Cook will speak on what he and others see as an outdated tax code, contending that the American corporate tax system has not kept pace with “the advent of the digital age and the rapidly changing global economy.”

The Toronto Globe and Mail states that “Ireland said on Tuesday it was not to blame for Apple Inc.’s low global tax payments after the U.S. Senate said the company paid little or nothing on billions of dollars in profit stashed in Irish subsidiaries.” The Irish government adds that it is pursuing the issue “very strongly” with the European Union and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has taken the lead on anti-tax evasion initiatives. The issue will be a main topic of discussion at a meeting of European Union officials later today.