Trump Threatens to Block Foreign Films with 100% Tariff
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films in an effort to revive what he called a “dying” Hollywood. In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, Trump said he had instructed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to implement the measure, calling foreign film production a national security threat.
“The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death,” Trump wrote. “Other countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. This is a concerted effort … and, therefore, a national security threat.”
The White House has confirmed that it is exploring how to enact the directive. Spokesperson Kush Desai stated that while no decisions have been finalized, all options are being considered to support Trump’s goal of “Making Hollywood Great Again.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick backed the initiative, reposting the president’s message and stating, “We’re on it.”
This proposed policy comes amid growing challenges in the American film industry. Hollywood has been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 labor strikes, which disrupted production and accelerated the shift toward at-home viewing. Although the U.S. still leads global production spending, international filming locations such as Toronto, Britain, and Australia have grown more attractive due to generous tax incentives.
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Trump’s rhetoric highlights his belief that the exodus of film production is more than an economic issue—it’s a cultural one. While it’s unclear if the tariffs would extend to television series or joint international productions, the announcement has already stirred debate. Trump’s move also follows a decision by China to limit the number of American films entering its market, potentially escalating trade tensions.
Adding further intrigue to the administration’s push to reshape Hollywood, Trump recently named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to the industry, vowing they would help make entertainment in the U.S. “stronger than ever before.”
Hollywood remains a vital part of the U.S. economy, contributing over $279 billion in 2022 and supporting 2.3 million jobs, per the Motion Picture Association. Yet, the industry is still recovering from COVID-19 impacts and the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
Film production spending in the U.S. fell 26% over two years to $14.5 billion, according to ProdPro. A recent survey showed studio executives favor overseas production hubs like Toronto, Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia, citing better tax incentives. California ranked sixth.
Ahead of his 2025 inauguration, Trump appointed actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to Hollywood, promising to make the industry “stronger than ever before.”
Content Credit| Agbetan Bisola
Picture Credit | politico.eu
