Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

Trump wants to slap 100% tariffs on movies made outside the US

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters + Al Mayadeen English
  • 30 Sep 2025 13:02
4 Min Read

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that the US' film industry had been "stolen" by other countries through what he described as unfair competition.

Listen
  • x
  • Trump wants to slap 100% tariffs on movies made outside the US
    Hikers approach a path near the Hollywood sign under high temperatures as seen from Griffith Observatory, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, marking a dramatic escalation of his protectionist trade agenda into the cultural sector. The proposal, first floated in May, now appears to be moving forward despite widespread uncertainty about how such a policy could be enforced.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that the US film industry had been "stolen" by other countries through what he described as unfair competition. "Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby," he wrote.

Trump has argued that foreign governments lure productions with "all sorts of incentives," which he views as economic sabotage rather than legitimate competition. He has even framed foreign film production as a national security threat, accusing rival countries of using movies as tools of propaganda and influence.

The announcement has alarmed Hollywood studios, which increasingly depend on overseas partners and international box-office revenue. Major players, including Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Skydance, Netflix, and Comcast, declined to comment to Reuters on the proposed tariffs, while analysts warned that higher costs would likely be passed on to consumers.

Paolo Pescatore, an industry analyst at PP Foresight, told Reuters that the move "raises more questions than answers," adding that for now, "costs are likely to increase, and this will inevitably be passed on to consumers."

A clash between global incentives and US protectionism

Related News

Trump urged Zelensky to cede Donbass for peace with Russia

Venezuela deploys 20,000 troops amid renewed US threats

Trump's threat comes at a time when film production has become highly globalized. Countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, and Hungary have built thriving production hubs by offering lucrative tax rebates and credits. For example:

  • The UK offers up to 40% in refundable tax credits.
  • Canada provides federal and provincial incentives that can exceed 30%.
  • Australia gives 30% rebates for post-production and visual effects work.
  • Hungary offers rebates of up to 37.5%, attracting blockbusters like Dune.

These programs have drawn big-budget projects abroad, contributing to a nearly 40% decline in production activity in Los Angeles over the past decade.

Film industry trade surplus vs Trump’s rhetoric

Despite Trump's claims of a "dying" industry, the US film sector remains a dominant global player. According to the Motion Picture Association, US films generated $22.6 billion in exports in 2023, giving the industry a $15.3 billion trade surplus. Hollywood exports nearly three times as much as it imports, making it one of the most successful cultural exports in the US economy.

Analysts argue that what Trump calls "theft" is in fact standard economic development competition, similar to how US states like Georgia and New Mexico use incentives to draw production away from California.

  • Trump wants to slap 100% tariffs on movies made outside the US
    Movie production spending by country/region (in $ billion) in 2024 (Dat: ProdPro, produced by Al Mayadeen English)

Can a movie tariff work?

Experts also question whether Trump could legally or practically enforce such tariffs. Unlike physical goods, films are distributed digitally, which complicates traditional customs enforcement. A Hollywood production that is partially filmed overseas would likely be affected under such a policy, while streaming platforms hosting global content libraries could also fall within the scope of the tariff.

An industry lawyer cited by AP noted that there is "simply no precedent" for tariffing intellectual property like movies, making Trump’s plan highly uncertain.

Industry reactions, future outlook

The proposal has drawn skepticism from Hollywood executives and labor unions alike. After Trump’s initial tariff threat in May, US film guilds urged him to support domestic tax incentives instead, arguing that positive measures would be more effective in keeping jobs in the US.

For now, industry leaders remain cautious. As one studio executive told Reuters, "He's the president, so it should be taken seriously, but mostly people are just baffled by this."

While Trump frames his tariffs as a defense of US jobs and culture, critics warn the policy could backfire, damaging one of the nation's strongest export industries and undermining its global soft power.

  • United States
  • Hollywood
  • Films
  • Trump administration
  • film industry
  • trump tariffs
  • Movies

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS