The Trump administration is considering a sweeping 100% tariff on foreign films as part of a push to revive the struggling American movie industry, though no final decision has been made yet, a White House spokesperson said on Monday.
President Donald Trump announced the proposed tariff on Sunday via a post on Truth Social, claiming that Hollywood is facing a “very fast death” as international incentives draw filmmakers away from the United States. He said he had directed agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to initiate steps toward imposing the new tariff.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated, “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.”
A White House official revealed that Hollywood experienced a nearly 30% decline in feature film production in the first quarter of 2025, recording only 451 shoot days, a significant drop from the previous year.
However, the administration has yet to release details about the legal framework or enforcement mechanisms for the proposed tariff, leaving much of the film industry uncertain. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office declined to comment, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick simply said, “We’re on it.”