President Donald Trump on Monday said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas and imported into the United States, a move that analysts warn could disrupt Hollywood’s global business model, Reuters reported.
The plan extends Trump’s protectionist trade agenda into the cultural sector, sparking uncertainty for U.S. studios that depend heavily on international co-productions and global box office revenue.
“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 Truth Social.
It remains unclear what legal authority Trump would use to enforce the measure. The White House did not respond to Reuters’ request for clarification, and major U.S. studios—including Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount, Skydance, and Netflix—declined comment. Comcast also refused to respond.
Analysts cautioned the tariffs could inflate production costs and hit consumers. “There is too much uncertainty, and this latest move raises more questions than answers,” Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight said.
Trump first floated the idea in May, though without specifics. At the time, U.S. film unions and guilds urged the administration to instead expand domestic tax incentives to encourage local production.
According to the Motion Picture Association, the U.S. film industry posted a $15.3 billion trade surplus in 2023, backed by $22.6 billion in exports. Hollywood has long relied on overseas hubs such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, where tax incentives draw high-budget shoots, as well as co-productions with Asian and European partners that provide financing and market access.
Industry executives worry the tariff could also affect thousands of U.S. workers employed on international productions, from visual effects specialists to production crews, whose jobs often span multiple countries.
