In a surprising move, United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States. The declaration was made via a social media post on a Sunday afternoon, where Trump stated that the production of movies abroad poses a "national security threat."
Trump's post read, "The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!"
The practical implementation of such a tariff remains ambiguous, as does the specific impact on various productions. Numerous countries offer attractive tax incentives that draw international film productions to locations such as the UK, Australia, and various European territories. These incentives make it financially appealing for filmmakers to shoot abroad.
Additionally, the allure of filming in exotic and diverse locations is a significant factor for many movies. The future of global action franchises like James Bond, John Wick, Extraction, or Mission: Impossible, which often feature scenes shot in various international settings, is now uncertain. Similarly, the production of films like the upcoming F1, which utilizes race tracks located outside the USA, could be significantly impacted.
It remains unclear how this tariff would affect movies currently in production or already completed. There are also questions about why television productions are excluded from this plan, and what the repercussions might be for American movies internationally if other countries retaliate against the U.S. for penalizing their film industries.
