ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he intends to implement a 100 per cent tariff on all films produced abroad and imported into the United States, a decision that could reshape Hollywood’s international business model.
The move extends Trump’s protectionist trade agenda into the cultural sector, creating uncertainty for U.S. studios that rely heavily on overseas productions and global box office earnings.
“Our movie-making business has been stolen from the United States of America by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Details about the legal authority Trump would use to enforce the tariff remain unclear.
The White House has not provided clarification, and major studios including Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount, Skydance, and Netflix have declined to comment. Comcast also refused to respond.
Industry analysts cautioned that the policy could drive up production expenses, which may eventually be passed on to consumers.
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“There is too much uncertainty, and this latest move raises more questions than answers,” Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight said.
Trump first mentioned the idea in May but offered no specifics, leaving industry leaders uncertain whether the measure would target particular countries or apply to all imports.
Following that announcement, U.S. film unions and guilds urged him to focus on domestic tax incentives to encourage local filmmaking instead.
In 2023, the U.S. film industry achieved a $15.3bn trade surplus, supported by $22.6bn in exports, according to the Motion Picture Association.
However, industry stakeholders warned that the proposed tariff could disrupt this positive trade balance.
Hollywood has traditionally depended on overseas production centres like Canada, the UK, and Australia, which offer tax incentives for large-scale projects.
Co-productions with Asian and European partners also provide essential financing and market access.
Executives within the industry have voiced concerns that such a sweeping tariff could impact thousands of U.S. workers involved in international shoots from production crews to visual effects artists whose work often spans multiple countries.