Trump proposes 100% duty on foreign films – Hollywood perplexed
By ForGeeks Donald Trump has yet to take office for a second time, and he’s already announced a new initiative – this time against the international movie industry. The former U.S. president plans to impose 100 percent tariffs on all films produced outside the U.S., reports Deadline.
“Movie Ambassadors” and the threat to national security
Trump has also appointed his “movie ambassadors” – actors Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight. Their credentials and role in the new policy remain vague for now. In his post on Truth Social, he called so-called “runaway production” (filming movies overseas aimed at the American market) a threat to national security. According to Trump, the practice undermines the U.S. film industry, and imposing duties would help protect domestic production from foreign competition.
Industry shocked: this is a blow to American movies themselves
The film industry has met Trump’s idea without much enthusiasm. Experts and producers warn that such tariffs will not only raise production costs, but also make international cooperation more difficult.
Many Hollywood projects are partially or entirely filmed overseas – in Canada, Europe or Asia – because of tax breaks and budget savings. The new duties will actually hit U.S. studios themselves if their productions are not made in the U.S.
“This is a step backward. Hollywood has long been a global industry. To cut itself off from the rest of the world is to lose,” says one anonymous studio official.
The real implications are still unclear
It’s not yet known how or when Trump’s idea might be implemented. Imposing such tariffs would require congressional approval or workarounds through executive orders. Previously, similar economic measures in other industries (e.g., IT and automobile manufacturing) have drawn a wave of criticism both inside the U.S. and abroad.
Similar economic measures in other industries (e.g., IT and automotive) have drawn a wave of criticism both inside the U.S. and abroad.
If the tariff does go through, it could affect streaming platforms, international movie premieres in the U.S. and the entire global movie market.
The article Trump Proposes 100% Duty on Foreign Films – Hollywood Perplexed was first published on ITZine.ru.
