Former President Trump declared on Monday his intention to enforce a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States, aiming to counteract nations that provide tax benefits to Hollywood productions.
“Our film industry has been taken from the United States of America, similar to stealing ‘candy from a baby’,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
“California, under the leadership of its ineffective Governor [Democrat Gavin Newsom], is suffering particularly hard! Therefore, to address this long-standing, persistent issue, I will be implementing a 100% Tariff on all films produced outside of the United States,” he specified.
This announcement follows nearly six months after Trump first hinted at imposing tariffs on films made abroad.
The entertainment sector has increasingly turned to filming locations in Canada, Australia, the UK, and other regions, benefiting from local tax incentives.
The industry is also capitalizing on partnerships with foreign studios in Europe and Asia, which offer essential financing and distribution factors, along with access to local markets.
If the president follows through with this directive, it would represent the first instance of imposing tariffs on a service instead of a tangible product.
It remains unclear what legal basis Trump would leverage to implement the tariff, and there has been no indication of when such duties would commence.
The White House has yet to respond to The Post’s request for comments regarding this announcement.
“At this stage, costs are likely to rise, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers,” entertainment analyst Paolo Pescatore informed Reuters.
Industry leaders have pointed out that a widespread tariff could impact countless American workers involved in overseas productions and teams coordinating across different countries.
In May, however, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien along with Teamsters Motion Picture Division Director Lindsay Dougherty commended Trump for suggesting tariffs as a means to combat Hollywood outsourcing and to boost domestic filmmaking.
Major American studios like Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Skydance, and Netflix have not yet issued public comments concerning the proposed tariffs.
Following Trump’s announcement, both Warner Bros and Netflix experienced a dip in their stock prices on Monday morning.
In addition to the tariffs on foreign films, Trump also announced plans to impose “significant” tariffs on all imported furniture.
“To restore greatness to North Carolina, which has seen its furniture industry vanish to China and other countries, I will be enforcing substantial tariffs on any nation that does not produce its furniture in the United States. More details to follow!!!,” he posted on Truth Social.
The administration is also poised to levy a 100% tariff on specific branded pharmaceuticals, with certain exceptions, and impose a 25% tariff on heavy trucks.
Additionally, the US is expected to enact a 50% duty on kitchen cabinets and vanities, and a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture.
Report compiled with contributions from Post wires
