Trump Hits Foreign Films with 100% Tariff

Donald Trump has announced a 100% tariff on foreign films, calling the industry “dying” and claiming it has been “stolen from the United States.” Four months after first signaling the move, the president says the tariff is now in effect—and it will have major global repercussions.

Targeting Hollywood Abroad

Trump singled out any movies made outside the U.S. for the new tariff. On Truth Social, he wrote:

“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing ‘candy from a baby.’ California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!”

He added:

“Therefore, I will be imposing a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

National Security Concerns

Back in May, Trump labeled the issue a national security matter. He warned that the industry is “DYING a very fast death” and accused other countries of luring filmmakers away with incentives. He described the effort as a “concerted effort by other nations” and claimed foreign films contain propaganda.

To combat this, Trump authorized the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to begin implementing the 100% tariff immediately.

Unanswered Questions

Despite confirming the tariffs, Trump has not clarified the mechanics. It’s unclear how the measure will affect U.S. companies like Netflix, which produces films globally, or American productions shot abroad. The impact on cinemas in the U.S., Europe, and beyond also remains unknown.

International Repercussions

Earlier this year, China retaliated against Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese goods by reducing American film imports. The China Film Administration stated:

“The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce domestic audiences’ favorability towards American films. We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”

Trump’s move signals an escalation in the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and global film markets. The next steps remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: the new tariff will reshape the international film industry and its relationship with Hollywood.