Trump announces 100% tariffs on foreign films to revive Hollywood

President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to impose 100 per cent tariffs on all foreign-made films, as part of a bid to rebuild Hollywood and bring movie production back to the United States. The president argued that financial incentives offered by countries like the UK, Canada, and Europe have significantly harmed the American film industry. He also claimed that foreign film production poses a threat to national security, alleging it spreads propaganda.

In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasised the urgency of the situation, declaring, “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda. Therefore, I am authorising the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 per cent tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands.”

The announcement comes against a backdrop of concerns about the economic impact of international film production on the US. Once a global leader in movie-making, Hollywood has experienced a sharp decline in domestic film projects. FilmLA, a non-profit body monitoring film production, reported a nearly 40 per cent drop in production in Los Angeles over the past decade. Simultaneously, the UK film industry recorded rapid growth, with £1.97 billion spent on film production in 2022 alone.

Recent blockbusters filmed outside the US—including Gladiator II, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, and Avatar: Fire and Ash—highlight the global trend towards shooting on foreign soil. Trump’s proposed tariffs could jeopardise major upcoming productions slated for filming overseas, such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Star Wars: Starfighter.

Trump also blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for the decline in US filmmaking, accusing state leadership of allowing other nations to “steal” the industry. He stated, “Hollywood is being destroyed. Now, you have a grossly incompetent governor that allowed that to happen.”

The plan has drawn criticism from other countries as well as trade experts. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon defended his nation’s film sector, describing it as an economic lifeline deserving protection. Meanwhile, William Reinsch, who served in the US Department of Commerce under the Clinton administration, warned that retaliatory measures by affected nations could exacerbate the decline of Hollywood, which employs millions of Americans and generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

While the full details of the tariffs remain unclear, the move has intensified the debate on whether protectionist policies can revive sectors like the struggling American film industry without sparking broader economic consequences.