U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he plans to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas and imported into the United States. In a Truth Social post, Trump argued, "Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby."
It is unclear what legal mechanism would support such a sweeping measure, but analysts warn it could have ripple effects across the global film industry. Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight, notes that "costs are likely to increase, and this will inevitably be passed on to consumers."
Many industry insiders point out that modern filmmaking is a borderless process. Film producer Mark Wolradian explains that a blanket domestic-only requirement ignores creative realities and capacity limits. "Atlanta can only host three film crews at a time," he says, highlighting why many productions still need overseas locations.
The U.S. film industry enjoyed a $15.3 billion trade surplus in 2023, driven by $22.6 billion in exports, according to the Motion Picture Association. Hollywood studios have long relied on production hubs in Canada, the UK and Australia, where tax incentives attract big-budget shoots.
Co-productions with foreign partners have also become more common, opening access to new markets and financing. But a 100% tariff could upend this ecosystem. A Morgan Stanley report led by analyst Benjamin Swinburne warned that such a levy would reduce production volumes, drive up costs and shrink industry revenues.
As lawmakers and industry groups debate policy and incentives, producers say they would prefer targeted measures—like tax credits—to support domestic jobs without hampering storytelling or global collaboration.
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Trump says will impose 100% tariff on movies made outside U.S.
cgtn.com
