Tariffs can harm Hollywood's film industry

When a country like Armenia sends a film out into the world, it’s not just art. It's a way to preserve memory, to reach a scattered diaspora. Each film offers the world stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

- Alexis Alexanian, Tribune News Service

So when President Trump proposes a 100% tariff on all films “produced in foreign lands,” the damage isn't limited to foreign competitors or outsourcing studios. It threatens to shut out small nations like Armenia, for whom cinema is a lifeline. The proposal hasn't taken effect — yet. But July 9 marked a turning point in Trump's broader tariff agenda, with a deadline for reimposing sweeping trade penalties on countries deemed “unfair.” While the situation for films remains unclear, the proposal alone has done damage and continues to haunt the industry.

The tariff idea arises from the worldview that treats international exchange as a threat — and cultural expression as just another import to tax.