Powerful signal to global film industry: Trump plans 100% tariffs on movies
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films, extending trade policy to the services sector for the first time, according to Trump’s post on Truth Social.
US President Donald Trump did not specify when or how the new 100% tariff on foreign-made films might be implemented, but said that California, the center of the American film industry, had been "especially hurt."
If enacted, this would mark the first time Trump has applied a tariff to a service rather than a product. In May, he had already threatened similar measures, arguing that other countries offer tax incentives that attract filmmakers to work abroad.
The announcement shocked Hollywood. Industry insiders told CNN that the president has no direct authority to impose such tariffs and that enforcement would be highly complex. Still, many studios have indeed moved production overseas due to lower labor costs and tax benefits.
Trump’s post immediately affected the market: Netflix shares rose by 1%, while AMC and Walt Disney also saw gains. However, US box office revenues have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, from nearly $12 billion in 2018 to just over $2 billion in 2020, with totals since then not surpassing $9 billion despite the reopening of cinemas.
Other planned tariffs
The administration reportedly also intends to impose:
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100% tariffs on branded pharmaceuticals (with some exceptions);
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25% on heavy trucks;
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50% on kitchen cabinets and vanities;
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30% on upholstered furniture.
In his post, Trump said he plans to introduce "significant tariffs" on all imported furniture, hinting at further trade policy expansion.
The move sends a strong signal to both the US and global film industries, already under pressure from shifting tax regimes and global economic uncertainty.
