Trump, in defense of Hollywood - Announces 100% tariffs on films produced outside the US
United States President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the US, saying the domestic film industry is experiencing a "very rapid death" due to incentives that other countries are offering to attract American directors.
"This is a joint effort by other nations and, therefore, a threat to National Security. Among other things, it is a message and propaganda," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The US president stressed that he was authorizing relevant US government agencies, such as the Department of Commerce, to immediately begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced abroad that are then shipped to the United States.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, posting on the X network, said: "We're working on this."
Neither Lutnick nor Trump provided details on the implementation. It is unclear whether the measure would target production companies, foreign or American, that make films abroad. Film and television production in Los Angeles has fallen by nearly 40% over the past decade, according to FilmLA, a nonprofit that tracks data for the region.
Meanwhile, governments around the world have been offering more generous tax credits and rebates to entice manufacturers, as well as capture a larger share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis predicts will be spent globally in the sector by 2025.
Trump's post comes after he sparked a trade war with China and imposed global tariffs that have rattled markets and raised fears of a US recession.
A former senior Commerce official and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said retaliation against Trump's foreign film tariffs would be devastating.
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