Trump Floats 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Stunning Global Industry

U.S. President Donald Trump said in weekend posts and follow-up remarks that his administration intends to levy a 100 percent tariff on any movie produced outside the United States, describing foreign-made films as a national-security threat and vowing to “Make Hollywood Great Again.” The idea emerged after Trump’s meeting at Mar-a-Lago with actor Jon Voight, whom he recently appointed a “special ambassador” to the film industry. Trump added that he would invite studio executives and union leaders to discuss ways to revive domestic production. If implemented, the tariff would cover all movies shot or manufactured abroad—whether American-financed or fully foreign—effectively doubling import costs for cinemas, streaming platforms and broadcasters. Nearly half of the production budgets of 2024’s top-grossing U.S. films were spent overseas, while Canada alone hosted US$12.2 billion in film and television activity in 2023, contributing about US$14 billion to its GDP. Analysts warn that the levy could also spill into other intellectual-property industries, from videogames to music. Hollywood and international partners reacted with alarm. Independent producers said the measure would be "simply unworkable" and could “destroy” their business models, while major studios maintained public silence amid frantic internal consultations. Trade unions are split: Teamsters president Sean O’Brien welcomed the proposal as leverage for U.S. jobs, but other guilds urged tax incentives rather than punitive duties. Shares of Netflix, Paramount Global and other entertainment companies fell after the announcement. Within 24 hours, administration officials began to soften the language, and U.S. media reported that the White House is studying narrower options or possible exemptions. Lawmakers from both parties questioned the legality and feasibility of taxing a digital product that crosses borders electronically. Until formal guidance is issued, the threat of a 100 percent tariff is adding another layer of uncertainty to an industry already grappling with shifting consumer habits and globalized production economics.