Trump orders 100% tariff on foreign films

LOS ANGELES — US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is authorizing to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 percent tariff on all movies "produced in Foreign Lands".

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death."

"Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, are being devastated," Trump said in the post, calling the situation "a National Security threat".

"Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 percent Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!" he added.

It was unclear if the tariffs would apply to movies on streaming services as well as those shown in theaters, or if they would be calculated based on production costs or box office revenue. Hollywood executives were trying to sort out details on Sunday night.

The announcement caused a stir nationwide, especially in the film industry. The Hollywood Reporter, a major Hollywood industry magazine, wrote that it "could shake up the entertainment industry".

Variety, another industry news outlet, said it is "a move that sent shock waves through Hollywood".

"Trump has complained about trade deficits as he has imposed tariffs on other countries, but the movie industry has been a bright spot," said Deadline, a premier publication for Hollywood business.

Former senior Commerce Department official William Reinsch, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said retaliation against Trump's film tariffs would be devastating.

"The retaliation will kill our industry. We have a lot more to lose than to gain," he said, adding it would be difficult to make a national security or national emergency case for movies.

Xinhua - Agencies