Trump plans 100% tariff on films made outside US

President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on movies “produced” outside the United States, proclaiming in a social media post Sunday that the issue posed a national security threat.

- BROKKS BARNES

Trump said he had authorised Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative, to begin the process of taxing “any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” Trump added, “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.”

The Motion Picture Association, which represents the biggest Hollywood studios in Washington, declined to comment. The association's latest economic impact report, based primarily on government data and released in 2023, showed that the film industry generated a positive US balance of trade for every major market in the world.

As is often the case with Trump’s declarations on social media, it was not entirely clear what he was talking about. Did he mean any movie, including independent foreign-language films destined for art house cinemas and movies that play exclusively on streaming services?