Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Foreign Films, Accuses Nations of ‘Stealing’ US Business

Trump Confirms 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films, Cites Threat to US Industry.

The United States will impose a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the country, President Donald Trump confirmed Monday in a post on Truth Social.

Trump argued that America’s movie industry has been undermined by overseas competitors. “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.

The move formalises plans first outlined in May, when Trump authorised the Commerce Department and US Trade Representative to explore steep duties on foreign films. He has framed the issue as both economic and strategic, calling it a “national security threat” tied to “messaging and propaganda.”

“We want movies made in America again,” Trump said, adding that the tariffs aim to “level the playing field” and push studios to produce domestically instead of relying on cheaper labour and tax breaks abroad.

Industry analysts warned, however, that the tariffs could backfire. US studios such as Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros regularly film overseas to control costs, and the new duties could pressure companies still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Entertainment stocks fell in premarket trading after Trump’s announcement, with Netflix slipping 1.4% and Warner Bros Discovery down 0.6%, according to Reuters.

The decision also lands amid escalating trade tensions with China, the world’s second-largest film market.

The film tariffs are part of a broader protectionist agenda. Last week, Trump unveiled sweeping new import taxes, including a 100% levy on pharmaceutical drugs not manufactured in the US, along with tariffs of 50% on kitchen cabinets, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy trucks. The measures are set to take effect October 1.