Trump Orders 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Cites Threat to U.S. Movie Industry
In a bold new move, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has instructed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States and imported into the country.
Trump described the declining state of the U.S. film industry as a “national threat,” blaming foreign nations for luring American filmmakers and studios with lucrative incentives. He warned that this trend was devastating Hollywood and other domestic creative hubs, calling the situation a “concerted effort” to weaken the U.S. through economic and cultural means.
Sharing a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. 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.”
Trump’s announcement comes amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. On April 10, China responded to ongoing American tariffs by stating it would “moderately reduce” the number of Hollywood films allowed in its domestic market. China’s National Film Administration linked the decision directly to U.S. tariff actions, saying the move would reflect the Chinese public’s growing dissatisfaction with American content.
“The wrong move by the US government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favourability towards American films,” the agency said, according to Al Jazeera.
Despite this, Trump appeared unfazed by China’s announcement, telling reporters he had “heard of worse things” in response to their reduced openness to Hollywood imports.
The Chinese market has traditionally been a significant revenue source for Hollywood, though Beijing allows only 10 American films to be screened annually.
