By Emeka Chiaghanam
In a characteristically combative post on Truth Social, Mr Trump lamented that the American film industry was "DYING a very fast death," blaming foreign incentives that lure productions abroad and accusing rival nations of using cinema as "messaging and propaganda."
The order, which directs the
Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to impose the tariffs,
marks an escalation in Mr Trump's long-standing crusade against globalized
entertainment production. "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!" he
declared. The policy targets jurisdictions like Toronto and Dublin, where
generous tax breaks have siphoned productions from traditional hubs such as Los
Angeles. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom has expanded state tax
credits to retain film shoots—a rare point of alignment with the Trump
administration.
Trade Wars Enter the Culture
Wars
The film tariff is the latest
salvo in Mr Trump's aggressive trade agenda, which has already seen import
taxes as high as 145% on Chinese goods, triggering retaliatory measures and
supply-chain upheaval. Economic data suggests the strategy is backfiring: US
GDP shrank 0.3% in early 2025, with Chinese container bookings to American
ports plummeting 60%. At the Port of Los Angeles, arrivals are projected to
drop by over a third as businesses grapple with policy uncertainty.
Foreign leaders, meanwhile,
report bewilderment over the administration's trade objectives. "There's
not a coherent strategy," said Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council, noting
that even allies struggle to discern negotiation priorities. As Hollywood
studios weigh the cost of relocating productions stateside, the move risks
further isolating America’s cultural exports, an ironic twist for a president
ostensibly fighting to preserve their dominance.
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