In a bold and controversial move, United States President Donald Trump has announced a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films, citing a need to protect and rejuvenate the struggling American film industry.
The declaration, made Sunday via Trump’s Truth Social platform, authorizes the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to immediately begin implementing the sweeping tariff policy.
“We want movies made in America, again!” the former president wrote. “The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death… This is a national security threat.”
Trump criticized foreign governments for attracting U.S. studios with lucrative incentives, which he says are draining jobs and resources from American soil.
The move comes amid growing trade tensions, particularly with China, which recently reduced its quota for imported American films.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick endorsed Trump’s statement, reposting it with the comment, “We’re on it,” though specifics on implementation remain vague.
The policy has already sparked concern among industry experts and international partners. Many warn it could disrupt global film markets and raise questions about how the tariff would apply to streaming content and international co-productions.
Hollywood, already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes, and shifting consumer habits, may face further turbulence. According to a recent report by production tracker ProdPro, U.S. production spending reached \$14.5 billion in early 2025—a 26% drop from two years prior. The report also showed a growing trend of American studios filming abroad to take advantage of tax breaks, with California ranking only sixth among preferred production locations.
In a parallel move, Trump named actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to the entertainment industry, saying they would help “make the entertainment industry stronger than ever before.”
As global reactions pour in, the full economic and diplomatic consequences of the tariff remain to be seen.
