Trump Announces 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Citing Threat to U.S. Film Industry

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is authorizing a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, arguing that the American film industry is under threat due to the increasing trend of domestic studios choosing to film abroad.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate the process of imposing the tariffs. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he wrote, claiming that foreign production incentives were drawing filmmakers away from Hollywood, which he described as being in a state of rapid decline.

“Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump said. He characterized the outsourcing of film production as a “National Security threat,” although he did not provide further specifics or clarify how the new policy would be enforced. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded publicly to Trump’s statement, saying, “We’re on it.”

The announcement follows a recent move by China to reduce its imports of U.S. films, intensifying trade tensions between the two countries. Trump’s administration has already imposed aggressive tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods, some as high as 145%.

While Hollywood remains a key part of the U.S. economy—supporting over 2.3 million jobs and generating $279 billion in sales in 2022—the industry has faced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent labor strikes. Many studios are now opting to film in international locations like Toronto, the UK, Central Europe, and Australia, where favorable tax incentives have made production more cost-effective. California, once the global center of movie production, now ranks sixth among preferred locations.

The Trump camp has not clarified whether the tariffs would apply to foreign-produced television series, a sector that has become increasingly dominant in global entertainment.

Ahead of his potential return to office, Trump appointed actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to the entertainment industry, vowing they would help make it “stronger than ever before.” The announcement, however, comes amid longstanding tensions between Trump and the broader entertainment world, which has largely supported his political opponents, including 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Industry analysts remain cautious, noting that the proposed tariffs—if implemented—could create significant complications for global film distribution and U.S.-based studios working with international partners.