Washington: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 100% import tariff on all foreign-produced films, blaming international incentives and unfair competition for the rapid decline of America’s film industry. Declaring the move as essential to protecting national interests, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to enact the new tax policy.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump warned that Hollywood and America’s creative industries are “crumbling” under what he described as a “coordinated effort” by foreign countries to lure filmmakers away with lucrative incentives. “The American film industry is rapidly dying,” he wrote, framing the issue as a threat to national security.
Trump urged producers to make films within the U.S., casting the tariff as a way to revive domestic production and reduce reliance on international markets.
This marks an extension of Trump’s “reciprocal tariff” strategy—previously aimed at manufacturing and trade—into the global entertainment sector, a move that could significantly impact international film imports and disrupt global film distribution networks.
