A “dying” industry faces 100% tariffs as announced by Donald Trump, with major global effects
President Donald Trump has announced the immediate implementation of a 100% tariff on all foreign films. He declared the measure, which was first signaled four months ago, is now in effect.
Trump justified the tariff by claiming the movie industry has been “stolen from the United States.” On Truth Social, he compared the situation to stealing “candy from a baby” and specifically criticized California’s leadership.
The administration frames this as a national security issue. Trump has previously alleged that the industry is “dying” and accused other countries of using incentives to lure filmmakers away from the U.S.
However, key operational details remain unclear. The policy’s specific impact on American companies with global productions, such as Netflix, or on domestic cinemas is not yet defined.
The move is expected to have significant international repercussions. It escalates existing trade tensions, particularly with China, which had already reduced its imports of American films in response to earlier U.S. tariffs.
China’s Film Administration had previously stated that U.S. tariff actions reduce the favorability of American films among its audiences. They pledged to “moderately reduce” the number of American films imported.
This tariff is poised to fundamentally reshape the global film industry’s relationship with Hollywood. The full consequences for international co-productions and market dynamics are still uncertain.
