Trump Announces "100% Tariff on All Foreign Films... Threat to National Security"

"U.S. Film Industry Decline...
A Threat to National Security"

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the initiation of procedures to impose a 100% tariff on foreign films. He cited the severe damage being inflicted on Hollywood and regions within the United States due to incentives offered for foreign films.

On the 4th (local time), President Trump stated on the social media platform Truth Social, "The American film industry is dying very quickly," and added, "I will authorize the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to immediately begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced abroad."

He continued, "Other countries are offering all kinds of incentives to drive American filmmakers and studios out of the United States," and said, "Hollywood and other regions within the U.S. are suffering serious damage."

Trump also argued that the decline of the American film industry constitutes a "threat to national security." He stated, "The incentives are an organized effort by other countries and therefore a threat to national security," and added, "This issue is both a message and propaganda." He further emphasized, "I want films made in America once again."

Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Commerce and USTR are expected to examine the impact of importing foreign films on national security. To this end, an investigation is likely to be launched under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The U.S. Trade Expansion Act grants the president the authority to restrict imports, including through the imposition of tariffs, if the importation of certain items is deemed to threaten national security.

Previously, President Trump had demonstrated his intention to rebuild the Hollywood film industry even before the start of his second term. On January 16, he designated three renowned veteran actors?Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson?as "Hollywood envoys" through Truth Social, stating, "They will serve as envoys to make Hollywood, which has lost much business overseas in the past four years, bigger, better, and stronger than ever before."