Trump Claims 100% Tariff Crackdown on Foreign Films – What This Really Means for the Future of the Film Industry
Following his tariff tirade, back in May Trump announced he would be putting a 100% tariff on all movies made outside the US. With confusion over what that would even look like, or whether he can legally impose tariffs on service-oriented products like movies, the global film industry is reeling from these vague and bold threats made by Trump.
A History of Disdain for Foreign Films
Trump has made it clear that he isn’t a fan of foreign films. I mean, clearly, he isn’t a fan of anything made outside the US, but back in 2019 when the South Korean film “Parasite” won Best Picture at the Oscars, his reaction was “What the hell was that all about? Can we get ‘Gone with the Wind’ back please?” which pretty much tells you all you need to know about the President’s movie taste. His declaration of the proposed tariff on films made in “foreign lands” came through a social media post, where he claimed it would be necessary to save the country’s film industry (it really wouldn’t).
Industry Response: Ava DuVernay Speaks Out
Veteran filmmaker Ava DuVernay spoke about the tariff-threat: “It was thoughtless and lacked any business foundation, any knowledge of how the industry works. There are people in our industry who’ve stepped up to say this would do more harm than good. It’s not about tariffs; it’s about tax incentives.” Take it from someone actually involved in the ins and outs of the industry, tariffs wouldn’t solve anything. Actually, they would probably make things worse.
Legal Limits and Administrative Walk-Backs
Not long after Trump’s announcement of the tariffs, reps at the White House backtracked his statement, but claimed the administration is still “exploring all options” to tackle his concerns over the film industry. The main reason for this reverse course is that it really isn’t legal to put tariffs on films, which technically fall under the category of service-related products, where tariffs have historically been applied to goods. Plus, under the Berman Amendment to the International Emergency Powers Act, the President cannot “regulate or prohibit the import or export of ‘informational materials,’ including films.”
Impact on Global and Independent Cinema
There are hundreds of examples of great movies from small countries with small budgets that rely on festival circuits, arthouse venues, streaming services and small-scale film distributors for circulation in the US – tariffs would completely sabotage their success. Even most US films partner with other countries or shoot in international locations, so something like a 100% tariff would turn the entire film industry on its head.
A Baseless Threat with Global Consequences
The indecisive Trump-imposed tariffs have already been causing chaos throughout the world, and have begun to affect our economic relationships with several countries. The threat of 100% tariffs on all films made away from the US, though baseless, is concerning and would potentially do more harm to the film industry than good. Let’s hope the White House realizes this and abandons their tariff plans, before it’s too late.
