Journalism of Courage
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he will impose a 100% tariff on all films made outside the country, a step that could reshape Hollywood’s global business. The move extends Trump’s trade policies into cultural industries and raises new questions for studios that depend on international markets, Reuters reported.
“Our movie making business has been stolen”
Trump announced the decision in a post on Truth Social, writing: “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby.”
It was not immediately clear under which law Trump would impose the tariffs. The White House did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Film companies including Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Paramount Skydance and Netflix also gave no immediate response.
Market reaction
Shares of Netflix were down 1.5% in early trading, Reuters reported. The plan adds uncertainty for studios that often rely on global audiences and cross-border partnerships for much of their revenue.
Industry and legal doubts
Studio executives told Reuters earlier this year they were “flummoxed” by how such tariffs could work, since modern films are typically produced, financed and edited across multiple countries.
Legal and trade experts say films are usually treated as intellectual property within global trade in services an area where the US often runs a surplus raising doubts over whether tariffs can be enforced. Another question is how co-productions between US and foreign studios would be treated.
