External Revenue Service

What is the External Revenue Service (ERS)?

The External Revenue Service (ERS) is a proposed government agency announced by then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in November 2016. The purpose of the ERS would be to collect tariffs, duties, and other revenues from foreign nations.

What are the goals of the ERS?

Trump stated that the ERS aims to shift the financial burden of trade away from American taxpayers and onto foreign entities. He believes that the ERS will help reduce the U.S. trade deficit and create a more level playing field for American businesses.

What are the concerns surrounding the ERS?

The ERS has been met with criticism from economists and trade experts. Some argue that the ERS is redundant, as the U.S. already has several agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), that collect duties and tariffs. Others worry that it could lead to protectionism, harming American consumers and businesses that rely on imports.

I personally share some of these concerns. I believe that the ERS may be an unnecessary duplication of efforts and its creation could lead to unintended consequences for the U.S. economy. It's important to remember that international trade is a complex issue and any changes to the current system should be carefully considered.

What's the status of the ERS?

As of now, the ERS is still in its early stages of planning. Trump has not provided many details about how the agency will be implemented or funded. It is also unclear how the ERS will interact with existing international trade agreements.

I will continue to follow the developments of the ERS closely and provide updates as they become available. Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on the ERS in the comments section below.