UNITED States President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 100 percent tariffs on all foreign-made films.
He argued that Hollywood was being ‘devastated’ by the growing trend of American filmmakers and studios producing movies overseas.
Trump announced this on Sunday, May 4, on his Truth Social platform, as the White House faces increasing criticism over its aggressive trade policies, which have led Trump to impose widespread tariffs on nations around the world.
“I am authorising the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 percent cent Tariff on any and all movies coming into our xountry that are produced in foreign lands,” he wrote.
Trump attributed the decision to a “concerted effort” by other countries l providing incentives to lure filmmakers and studios, calling it a “national security threat”.
“It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, confirmed and reposted the president’s message on social media, expressing full support for the proposed tariffs, and saying “We’re on it.”
Trump’s announcement comes amidst recent data showing signs of resilience in the US box office.
According to the latest data from the Motion Picture Association, Hollywood is a significant contributor to the U.S. economy, supporting over 2.3 million jobs and generating $279 billion in sales in 2022.
However, industry insiders say that in the aftermath of the Hollywood strikes and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted American viewing habits toward home streaming over theater visits, the industry is still struggling to regain its footing.
A recent Hollywood report shows that the US box office brought in around $8.7 billion last year, marking a slight decline of about three per cent from the $9 billion recorded in 2023.
The ICIR reports that several recent major movies produced by US studios were shot outside America, including Deadpool and Wolverine, Wicked and Gladiator II.
It was also unclear if the tariffs would apply to films on streaming services, like Netflix, as well as those shown at cinemas.
Trump’s post follows China’s announcement last month that it would cut back on the number of US films it mports, a move that comes amid ongoing tensions fueled by the president’s aggressive trade policies, including 145 percent tariffs on many Chinese goods.
Since assuming office, Trump’s tariffs have included a universal 10 per cent import tax, sharply higher rates for certain countries and sectors, and new secondary tariffs targeting third-party trade.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.