Quotes
This is basically a language scam. Tariffs and duties are paid by the importer, the U.S. company bringing in the goods. It isn't "external revenue" and calling the customs agency an "external revenue service" is just another way of tricking people."
Political analyst Arieh Kovler said on X, formerly Twitter
This proposal appears to be part of Trump's more extensive strategy to portray tariffs on foreign imports as a means of offsetting costs for his policy agenda and, at the same time, to appeal to his base with trade-related tough talk."
Fahey told NewsweekCBP, as directed by Treasury, already collects tariff revenue, so I don't know what a new External Revenue Service will be doing apart from moving desks and relocating IT."
Consumer Brands Association vice president of campaigns and special projects Tom Madrecki said at a webinar last week
Going forward, if America is going to be collecting more tariffs, and especially if there is movement in Trump's desired direction of substituting tariffs for the income tax as the primary means of financing government, it would make sense to place responsibility for collecting those tariffs in an organization specializing in tax collection."
Former U.S. diplomat and political scientist Michael Montgomery told NewsweekI will create the EXTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE to collect our Tariffs, Duties, and all Revenue that come from Foreign sources. We will begin charging those that make money off of us with Trade, and they will start paying, FINALLY, their fair share."
Trump announced his intention to create the new federal department on Truth Social, writingTariffs are going to make us rich as hell. It's going to bring our country's businesses back that left us."
Trump told supporters at Capital One Arena in Washington on January 20The creation of this new agency seems largely unnecessary because existing government agencies already perform these functions,
Michael Fahey, CEO and founder of Fahey Communications, a national PR firm specializing in political campaigns, media relations and crisis communications, told NewsweekBecause of the Global Tax Deal and other discriminatory foreign tax practices, American companies may face retaliatory international tax regimes if the United States does not comply with foreign tax policy objectives,
the memo reads
There have been concerns raised with us by US representatives about various aspects of our international tax agreement.”
Mathias Cormann, OECD secretary-general, said
We from our side remain committed to our international obligations...and are open to a meaningful dialogue with our international partners,
said a spokespersonThe conversation on tariffs will be transactional but the real fight will move to where fortunes are at stake and big tech has an interest,
they addedUltimately we are seeing international taxation moving from a multilateral domain to a bilateral one based on strong unilateral assertions. It is a new taxation world,
he addedGoing after their domestic tax regimes off the back of hitherto global commitments shows Trump is getting creative in his fight to put ‘America First’,
she saidIf you take this statement at face value, there’s every chance they come back in 60 days and say most countries of the world and most OECD member countries should be subject to the counter measures they’re talking about,
he saidIn those areas, the primary target will likely be China, but the next could be Korea,
Jang said
Judging by Trump’s Cabinet picks, he is selecting individuals who are more inclined to impose tariffs, making it almost certain that tariffs will be introduced,
Jang Sang-sik, head of trade trend analysis at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), saidThe second Trump administration is expected to pursue proactive tariff measures ahead of the midterm elections in November 2026, utilizing congressional legislation and executive orders,
the KITA report noted