In a surprising move, United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies produced outside the United States. This declaration was made through a social media post on a Sunday afternoon, where Trump claimed that producing films abroad poses a "national security threat."
"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," Trump stated. "Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to lure 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 unclear, as does its impact on specific productions. Many countries, including the UK, Australia, and various European nations, offer tax incentives that make filming abroad financially appealing for international productions.
Moreover, films often shoot overseas to capture exotic and diverse locations, enhancing the storytelling experience. The potential effects of this tariff on global franchises like James Bond, John Wick, Extraction, or Mission: Impossible, as well as films like the upcoming F1, which are shot on international race tracks, are uncertain.
It remains to be seen how this tariff will affect movies currently in production or already completed, and why it excludes TV productions. Additionally, the global repercussions for US movies if other countries retaliate against this move to penalize international productions for wanting to reach American audiences are yet to be determined.