US President Donald Trump is at it again, this time taking aim at the global movie industry.
Trump has authorized the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin implementing a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the US.
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Trump targets global film industry
According to the US president, the decision is intended to revive America’s domestic film industry, which he claims is on life support.
“The movie industry in America is DYING a very fast death. We want movies made in America, again!” Trump said in a statement on Truth.
Trump argued that other countries have aggressively courted American filmmakers with lucrative incentives, drawing productions away from Hollywood to destinations such as Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
This exodus, he noted, has hit the US film economy hard, particularly during its fragile recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which had already stalled production and slashed earnings.
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He further branded the incentive strategies of foreign governments as a threat to US national security.
“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!”
Trump’s movie tariff is one of several recent trade policies introduced by his administration that have roiled global markets. For instance, the US recently imposed a 145% tariff on goods from China. In response, China retaliated with a 125% tariff on American products.
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Observers warn that the ongoing trade war may lead to a surge in the cost of goods manufactured in China and elsewhere, possibly triggering widespread price hikes and economic uncertainty.
Earlier this year, Trump appointed three veteran actors, Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as ambassadors to assist in reviving Hollywood’s fortunes under his vision.
