Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Calls It National Security Issue
Washington, D.C. : President Donald Trump has announced a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, claiming that foreign incentives are draining American film production and posing a national security threat.
Trump made the announcement Sunday on Truth Social, declaring, “This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a National Security threat… WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
He has instructed agencies like the Department of Commerce to immediately start the process of enforcing the tariff. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X, writing simply: “We’re on it.” However, neither Trump nor Lutnick offered specifics on implementation, and it remains unclear whether the tariffs would apply to American companies filming abroad.
The decision comes amid a nearly 40% drop in film and TV production in Los Angeles over the past decade, as reported by FilmLA. Meanwhile, global governments are attracting productions with lucrative tax credits and rebates. Ampere Analysis estimates global content production spending will reach $248 billion in 2025.
Critics warn the move could provoke harmful retaliation. William Reinsch, former Commerce official and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, “The retaliation will kill our industry. We have a lot more to lose than to gain.” He also questioned the claim that film production qualifies as a national security issue.
The announcement marks another escalation in Trump’s aggressive trade policies, which have previously sparked tensions with China and concerns about economic fallout.
