Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’
President calls films ‘national security threat’ and claims he called on commerce department to immediately enact tariff
Guardian staff and agencies
5 May 2025 00.54 BST
Donald Trump on Sunday announced on his Truth Social platform a 100% tariff on all movies “produced in Foreign Lands”.
In his post, he claimed to have authorized the Department of Commerce and the US trade representative to immediately begin instituting such a tariff, although he gave no details on how it would be implemented.
“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat,” Trump said in the Truth Social post. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”
The film industry has already been feeling the effects of the tariffs as China in April responded to the announcements by reducing the quota of American movies allowed into that country.
“The wrong action of the US government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favourability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said in a statement on 10 April. “We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”
China is the world’s second largest film market after the US, although in recent years domestic offerings have outshone Hollywood imports. However, the tariffs would deal a significant blow to western studios – especially Walt Disney Company, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros Discovery Inc – still struggling to rebound after the pandemic.
President calls films ‘national security threat’ and claims he called on commerce department to immediately enact tariff
Guardian staff and agencies
5 May 2025 00.54 BST
Donald Trump on Sunday announced on his Truth Social platform a 100% tariff on all movies “produced in Foreign Lands”.
In his post, he claimed to have authorized the Department of Commerce and the US trade representative to immediately begin instituting such a tariff, although he gave no details on how it would be implemented.
“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat,” Trump said in the Truth Social post. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”
The film industry has already been feeling the effects of the tariffs as China in April responded to the announcements by reducing the quota of American movies allowed into that country.
“The wrong action of the US government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favourability towards American films,” the China Film Administration said in a statement on 10 April. “We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”
China is the world’s second largest film market after the US, although in recent years domestic offerings have outshone Hollywood imports. However, the tariffs would deal a significant blow to western studios – especially Walt Disney Company, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros Discovery Inc – still struggling to rebound after the pandemic.
Comment