Trump Slaps 100% Tariffs on Foreign-Made Films, Citing Threat to Hollywood
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new policy to impose 100% tariffs on all foreign-made films, claiming that the American movie industry is being “devastated” by studios filming abroad. The declaration was made Sunday on his Truth Social account, where Trump said the move aims to revive domestic film production and labeled the current outsourcing trend a “national security threat.”
“We want movies made in America, again!” Trump wrote, directing the Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to begin immediate implementation of the tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded, “We’re on it.”
While the logistics of the tariff enforcement remain unclear, the policy could have major implications for an industry still recovering from the pandemic and Hollywood strikes. Trump blamed foreign governments for luring U.S. productions with tax incentives, while also referencing China’s recent cutback on importing American films.
Industry analysts say Hollywood’s production spending in the U.S. dropped by 26% over the past two years, with top future filming destinations now being Canada, Europe, and Australia. Trump’s move is likely to stir fresh debate in an already strained entertainment sector.
As part of his vision to revitalize Hollywood, Trump recently appointed Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as “special envoys” to the industry. He claims they will help make it “stronger than ever before.”
The policy, however, may face resistance both from the film industry and legal experts, especially with no clear framework on how TV series or streaming content will be handled under the new tariffs.
