The U.S. government is exploring options for tariffs on foreign films, but no final decisions have been made, according to White House spokesman Kush Desai. This comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a potential 100% tariff on movies produced outside the country, citing concerns about the decline of the American movie industry.
Trump stated that the American movie industry was “dying a very fast death” due to incentives offered by other countries to attract filmmakers.
A White House official noted a significant decline in Hollywood film production in the first quarter of 2025, with a nearly 30% drop in “shoot days” for feature films compared to the previous year.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was authorizing government agencies, such as the Department of Commerce, to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced abroad and then imported into the United States.
The White House has not provided details on the legal basis or implementation of the potential tariffs, leaving uncertainty within the film industry.
Desai stated that “although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.”
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office had no immediate comment. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “We’re on it.”