The White House has clarified that no final decision has been made on imposing sweeping tariffs on foreign films, a day after former US president Donald Trump declared a 100% levy on all movies produced outside the United States — a pronouncement that triggered alarm across the global entertainment industry.
“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,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said on Monday.
Trump had announced on his Truth Social platform on Sunday the 100% tariff “on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands”.
While he offered few details on how the measure would be implemented, Trump claimed the US film industry was “dying a very fast death” and alleged a “concerted effort” by foreign countries to lure American filmmakers and studios with generous incentives — a development he described as a “national security threat”.
The dramatic statement sent shockwaves through the entertainment sector. On Wall Street, shares of US streaming and production companies dropped sharply on Monday amid widespread uncertainty. Netflix fell 1.7% by early afternoon, Amazon 1.5%, Warner Bros Discovery 1.1%, and Paramount 1%.
The global response was swift. In Australia and New Zealand — both major filming locations for franchises such as The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Marvel productions — political leaders expressed concern and pledged to defend their domestic film sectors.
Australia’s home affairs minister Tony Burke said he had spoken to the head of Screen Australia regarding the proposal, adding, “Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry.”
In the UK, the media union Bectu called on the British government to protect the country’s “vital” film sector, warning that tens of thousands of freelance jobs could be jeopardised.
However, by Monday afternoon, the White House appeared to walk back the Sunday announcement.
It is increasingly common for major blockbusters and independent films alike to shoot across multiple countries, including the US. Tax incentives have become a major factor in choosing filming locations, with many projects opting for countries such as Canada and the UK over California. Data from FilmLA, a non-profit that tracks production in Los Angeles, indicates that film and television production in the city has dropped nearly 40% over the past decade.
Trump’s proposed tariffs come amid a broader protectionist agenda that has included trade wars and global tariffs. In April, China — the world’s second-largest film market — retaliated against US tariffs by cutting the quota of American films allowed into the country.
