Trump Orders 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Citing Industry Decline

By Staff, Agencies

US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he is ordering a sweeping 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States, citing what he described as a rapidly deteriorating domestic movie industry.

Trump blamed the trend of American studios and filmmakers seeking incentives abroad, which he claimed is devastating Hollywood and poses a “national security threat.”

“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,” Trump declared via his Truth Social platform. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed the statement, reposting Trump’s post with the comment: “We’re on it.” However, no specifics were provided regarding how the tariff would be implemented or when it would take effect.

Trump’s announcement follows China’s recent move to reduce the number of US films it imports—a reaction to the escalating trade war driven by Trump’s policies, including tariffs exceeding 145% on numerous Chinese goods.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump posted, asserting that foreign governments were using attractive incentives to lure US productions overseas. “Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, are being devastated,” he said.

Trump has frequently framed economic issues through the lens of national security. On Sunday, he suggested that the outsourcing of film production weakens the United States’ cultural and industrial base, portraying the matter as a strategic concern.

The broader implications for the film and television industry remain unclear, especially since Trump made no mention of whether TV series—an increasingly profitable and globally consumed medium—would also be subject to the tariff.

Despite Hollywood's significant economic footprint—generating over 2.3 million jobs and $279 billion in sales as of 2022—the industry continues to struggle in the aftermath of pandemic disruptions and prolonged labor strikes. A recent report from production tracker ProdPro showed a 26% decline in domestic production spending compared to two years ago.

The survey also revealed that the top five preferred production hubs for 2025 and 2026 were all outside the United States, led by Toronto, followed by Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia. California, the historic heart of US filmmaking, ranked sixth—underscoring the challenge faced by American studios in retaining production at home.

In a symbolic move to strengthen ties with Hollywood, Trump recently appointed actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to the entertainment industry, promising to make it “STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.”

Trump’s support in Hollywood remains limited, however, as the entertainment sector has long leaned Democratic. A number of high-profile figures, including Taylor Swift and George Clooney, publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.