Trump announces a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the US, saying the American movie industry is ‘dying’ due to incentives in other countries.
President Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the US. He claims the American film industry is “dying” a “very fast death” due to incentives offered by other countries to entice filmmakers.
“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The president added that he was authorizing relevant government agencies like the Department of Commerce to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States that are then imported. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wrote on X/Twitter: “We’re on it.”
It’s not yet known whether the tariffs would apply to films released on streaming services in addition to those shown in theaters. It’s also unclear whether tariffs would be calculated based on box office revenue or production costs. Notably, in January, Trump appointed Hollywood veterans Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as “special ambassadors” to help restore Hollywood’s “Golden Age” of filmmaking.
Both film and television production have been exiting Hollywood for years, preferring locations with tax incentives that make it cheaper to film there. Many popular filming locations worldwide have increased credits and cash rebates to attract production and earn a greater share of the $248 billion predicted to be spent globally this year to produce film and television.
“These tariffs, coming after COVID and the recent slowdown, could deal a knock-out blow to an industry that is only just recovering,” said Philippa Childs, head of British media and entertainment union Bectu.
According to Childs, the tariffs would also threaten tens of thousands of jobs of freelance filmmakers in the UK. Film and TV production in the UK was worth 5.6 billion GBP ($7.45 billion) in 2024—an increase of 31% over the year prior, according to the British Film Institute.
“I think the most likely consequence is not that more productions will be done outside of America, or more productions would be done in America, but probably that just fewer productions will [be made],” said Scott Roxborough, Hollywood Reporter Europe Bureau Chief.
Television and film production in Hollywood has fallen by nearly 40% over the last ten years. The wildfires in January only worsened concerns that producers may need to continue looking outside the Los Angeles area. Many industry workers, including camera operators, sound technicians, costume designers, and more, have considered moving out of town as opposed to trying to rebuild their neighborhoods and businesses in Los Angeles.
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