Trump Proposes 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Media Stocks Slide
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President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday that he has directed the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to begin imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States and imported into the country. He asserted that foreign tax incentives have lured productions overseas, leaving the American movie business “dying a very fast death” and posing a national-security threat.
The proposal marks the first time Trump has extended his aggressive trade policy to the entertainment sector. He added that he will meet with studio executives to ensure they are “happy with the tariff idea,” although he gave no timetable or legal framework. Trade lawyers noted that a 1980s statute limits presidential authority over cultural imports, and industry analysts said definitions of what constitutes a “foreign” film remain unresolved.
Markets reacted swiftly. On Monday media shares declined, with Warner Bros. Discovery falling 1.99%, Netflix 1.94%, Paramount Global 1.57% and Disney 0.35%. Analysts warned the levy could raise ticket prices, disrupt global distribution deals and invite retaliation against U.S. intellectual property abroad.
Film bodies in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand—countries that collectively hosted more than $12 billion in U.S. productions last year—expressed alarm, calling the tariff “unworkable” and economically damaging. Hollywood guilds and streaming platforms also questioned how co-productions and digital releases would be treated, underscoring broad uncertainty about how the administration intends to translate the president’s directive into enforceable policy.
🚨'Make America Film Again'
Some Hollywood trade unions and other groups are urging lawmakers to give financial incentives to the American film industry following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign nations. https://t.co/0088R6JGhR
In a post on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump said the administration would put a 100% tariff on all movies that are produced overseas to counter incentives other countries offer production companies to film there.
https://t.co/fFS9fvdWIJ
Trump is threatening a 100% tariff on films made outside the U.S., citing national security. Experts say it could hurt Hollywood and push the U.S. into uncharted IP territory. Here's what we know. https://t.co/BDwsXGkSe1
