BY LEA PATERSON, ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT

 JERSEY and the Isle of Man are set to defy pressure to conform over regulatory and disclosure standards after six other tax havens made a last-ditch attempt to avoid a public naming-and-shaming.

Bermuda and the Cayman Islands are among the offshore centres that will be excluded from a list of "unco-operative" tax havens to be published next week after pledging to fall more in line with international practices.

However, Jersey and the Isle of Man will be criticised in the report due to be released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and could face ultimately punitive sanctions if they continue to resist worldwide moves to clamp down on tax avoidance.

If these tax havens are still refusing to co-operate by July 2001, OECD countries could take "defensive measures", according to one official. These may include revoking double taxation treaties with the offshore centres.

Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Malta, Mauritius and San Marino agreed yesterday to revise by December 2003 laws relating to the exchange of information on criminal matters. The exchange of information on civil matters is expected from December 2005.

 "These jurisdictions see it is in their long-term interests to become respectable members of
 the international community," an OECD official said.

The British Government, which has been involved closely in the anti-tax avoidance campaign, welcomed the moves by Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, both UK dependent territories. Dawn Primarolo, Paymaster General, said: "We expect, and will be seeking to encourage, other jurisdictions to adhere to  international standards."