Trump demands 100% tariff on foreign movies

President Trump has called for 100% tariffs on foreign films and said “unional efforts” from other countries to attract filmmakers abroad pose a threat to national security.

“The American film industry is dying rapidly. Other countries are offering various incentives to keep our film producers and studios away from the United States. Many other areas in Hollywood and many other areas within the United States have been tragic.”

“It’s a concerted effort by other countries and therefore a national security threat. Message and publicity are included among all other things! So I’m authorizing the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to immediately start the process of 100% tariffs on any and all films made in the U.S., he added.

It is unclear how any such tariffs are imposed on intellectual property, but the move is almost certain to face legal challenges in the industry, including the justification for freedom of speech.

Although a spokesperson for the Film Association declined to comment, the Trade Group’s 2023 report said the film industry “has produced a positive trade balance in every major market in the world.”

The School of Film Arts and Sciences did not immediately respond to ITK’s request for comment.

Trump’s use of punitive tariffs has shaken global markets and led the United States to experience the first quarter of years of economic growth. He has had a tough relationship with the entertainment industry, with many notable Hollywood stars among his most intense critics.

Before taking the oath in January, the president appointed actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as his “special ambassadors.”

“These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears and I will complete their suggestions. Just like the United States of America itself, the golden age of Hollywood will be reappeared!” he said at the time.

– Judy Kurtz Eastern Time

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