Trump Targets Foreign Films With 100% Tariffs in Bid to Revive Hollywood
Wafric News | Washington, D.C. – May 5, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of his global trade offensive, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to slap 100% tariffs on movies produced outside the United States, saying foreign film incentives are destroying America’s entertainment industry.
Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused foreign governments of waging what he called a "coordinated effort" to lure Hollywood productions abroad — a move he labeled a “national security threat” and a form of “messaging and propaganda.”
“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” Trump declared. “America’s film industry is dying a very fast death.”
The president said he had directed the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to begin the process of enforcing the tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded bluntly: “We’re on it.”
While the policy signals a bold push to reclaim domestic film production, the announcement has left key details murky. It's unclear whether the tariffs would target foreign-made films by U.S. studios or apply to international films streamed online. Blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine, Wicked, and Gladiator II, all shot outside the U.S., could be affected — but no specifics have been offered yet.
There has been no official comment from the U.K.'s Department for Culture, the British Film Institute, or the Motion Picture Association, which represents the five largest American film studios.
Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand pushed back swiftly, defending their film sectors.
“Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry,” said Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his government was watching the situation closely. “We’ll be strong advocates for our film industry,” he told reporters.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has made tariffs a central weapon in his economic agenda — a strategy that critics warn is unsettling global markets and driving up prices.
Still, Trump maintains that the pressure will “bring American jobs back” and reduce the outflow of creative talent. Earlier this year, he appointed actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as “special envoys” to help restore Hollywood’s global clout.
“They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood… BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” Trump wrote.
Despite the challenges, the U.S. remains a powerhouse in film production. According to research firm ProdPro, the country saw $14.54 billion in production spending last year — though that figure reflects a 26% drop from 2022. At the same time, countries like Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand have seen a significant rise in film investment.
As Trump doubles down on his “America First” cultural policies, filmmakers and global studios are bracing for what could become a new front in the international trade war — one where art, economics, and politics collide.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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