Donald Trump puts 100% tariff on movies made outside of the US
Donald Trump’s trade war has now been expanded to the entertainment industry as the US president announced huge tariffs on films made outside of America.
On his own social media platform, Truth Social, the President discussed the American filmmaking industry, claiming that it is dying a “very fast death” due to the incentives that other countries were offering US filmmakers, drawing their projects out of the country.
He claimed that this is an attack to the country, stating, “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.” He added that because of this, foreign films are propaganda against the US, stating, “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!” He added, in all caps, “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
As a result, the President is now imposing an 100% tariff on all films “produced in Foreign Lands”. In his social posts, he claim he has now authorised the commerce department and the US trade representative to begin implementing this new tariff immediately.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded to this move on X by saying simply, “We’re on it.” Neither Trump nor Lutnick has provided any further details on the tariff or implementation, leaving it unclear how this will impact production companies, foreign or domestic.
Politicians in Australia and New Zealand have already responded to the news. Australia’s home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said, “Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry.” New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said they are awaiting more details on the tariff but said, “We’ll be obviously a great advocate, great champion of that sector in that industry.”
However, there is a fear because these tariffs threaten the entertainment industry, a sector seen as privileged and non-essential. Former senior Commerce Department official William Reinsch suggested that retaliation amidst Trump’s ongoing trade war would be devastating. “The retaliation will kill our industry. We have a lot more to lose than to gain,” he said, claiming that it would be difficult to make a national security or national emergency case for movies.
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