Washington: In a bold move, President Donald Trump has announced a new initiative targeting international films. On Sunday evening, he declared via Truth Social that he has authorized the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the United States.
Trump expressed concerns over the decline of the U.S. movie industry, claiming that foreign nations are offering incentives to lure filmmakers away from the U.S. He warned that this poses a national security threat and contributes to foreign "messaging and propaganda."
Though the logistics of such a tariff remain unclear, this move highlights ongoing issues within the U.S. film industry, such as the impact of COVID-19, Hollywood strikes, and California's declining production. U.S. cities and countries with attractive tax incentives have increasingly drawn film productions away from California, with locations like Toronto, Vancouver, and the U.K. topping the list.
The Motion Picture Association has yet to comment on Trump's announcement.
While the proposal is controversial, it reflects Trump’s longstanding focus on reshaping U.S. trade policies, including past efforts to introduce tariffs on a variety of foreign goods.
