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Trump Promises To Impose 100% Tariffs On Movies Produced Outside The US. Measure Aims To Strengthen Hollywood, But Creates Uncertainties In The Sector.
Trump Announces New Offensive Against Foreign Films
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, declared on Monday (29) that he intends to impose 100% tariffs on movies produced outside the US.
The announcement, made on his platform Truth Social, reignites a debate that began in May when the Republican first raised the proposal.
According to Trump, the measure aims to protect the American film industry, which, in his words, has been “stolen by other countries as easily as taking candy from a baby.”
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Although he promised immediate action, the president did not detail when the tariffs will take effect or whether the measure will also target television series.
Why Does Trump Want To Impose 100% Tariffs?
The Republican justifies the decision as a way to regain lost ground for Hollywood in the face of countries that offer attractive tax incentives for filmmakers.
Among them are the United Kingdom, France, Hungary, and Thailand, which directly compete with California for major productions.
Trump emphasized that he intends to “solve this longstanding and never-ending problem” by imposing heavy tariffs on movies that enter the American market without being produced in the US.
In his view, this could bring back investments and jobs to the audiovisual sector.
Hollywood in Crisis and Pressure on California
The state of California, the birthplace of the global film industry, is at the center of this controversy. In recent years, the region has recorded a historic decline in the number of filming days, reaching the lowest level in 2024. The situation worsened after the pandemic when production came to a complete halt.
To try to reverse this trend, the state legislature approved the doubling of tax credits for films and series. Still, experts point out that international competition remains a significant challenge for Hollywood.
Political Attacks and Clash With Gavin Newsom
In addition to the economic issue, Trump took the opportunity to attack California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, whom he called “weak” and “incompetent.”
The clash between the two has been ongoing for months. In July, for example, Trump sent National Guard troops to the state, intensifying the rivalry.
Despite the criticisms, Newsom indicated a willingness to cooperate. The governor advocates for a federal plan of US$ 7.5 billion (about R$ 40 billion) in tax credits to strengthen audiovisual production across the country.
Reaction from the Film Sector in the US
The idea of 100% tariffs was not well received by major studios and unions in Hollywood.
In a joint letter sent in June, industry representatives called for more domestic tax incentives instead of international tariffs, arguing that competitiveness needs internal support.
It is still unclear whether the imposition of these tariffs will yield the expected results.
Analysts warn that the measure may not be sufficient to recover the vitality of an industry that has been suffering from high costs, a decrease in production, and loss of talent to other countries.
What To Expect Going Forward?
At this moment, Trump’s decision raises more questions than certainties. If implemented, the 100% tariffs could raise the cost of distributing foreign films in the American market while simultaneously pressuring local producers to expand their projects.
On the other hand, critics argue that Hollywood needs structural reforms, not just trade barriers. Thus, the big question remains: will Trump’s tariffs truly be able to revitalize the film industry in the US, or will they just be another political dispute in an election year?
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