In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has announced via social media his intention to impose a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States. Trump's post on a Sunday afternoon labeled the production of films in foreign countries as a "national security threat," citing the detrimental impact on the American movie industry.
"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," Trump stated. "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 unclear, as does its potential impact on specific productions. Many countries, including the UK, Australia, and various European nations, offer tax incentives that make filming there financially appealing for international productions.
However, the allure of filming in foreign locations often stems from the desire to showcase exotic and diverse settings, essential for films like the James Bond, John Wick, Extraction, and Mission: Impossible series, or upcoming projects like F1, which utilize international race tracks.
The specifics of how this tariff would affect movies currently in production or already completed are unknown. Additionally, the exclusion of TV productions from this plan raises further questions. The potential for retaliatory measures from other countries, which could impact the global distribution of American films, adds another layer of complexity to Trump's proposal.
