The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that he will impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside the country, as part of an initiative to "revive" the national film industry, which he described as "dying very quickly."
Through his network Truth Social, Trump stated that other countries are offering tax and logistical incentives that pose a "national security threat." His message ended with a direct call: "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, AGAIN!"
The measure, lacking concrete details, has generated international concern. It has not been clarified whether it will affect productions from U.S. studios filmed abroad or if it will include content from streaming platforms such as Netflix.
The Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, supported the initiative, stating that they are already working on its implementation. However, according to BBC, critical voices both inside and outside the country are warning of negative consequences.
Timothy Richards, founder of the Vue cinema chain, questioned the logic of defining what constitutes an “American” film. "Is origin determined by the script, the director, the funding, or the filming location?" the businessman asked.
Meanwhile, the British union Bectu warned that the tariffs could severely impact an industry that is just beginning to recover from the pandemic. Its leader, Philippa Childs, urged the British government to act urgently to protect workers in the audiovisual sector.
The governments of Australia and New Zealand also came to the defense of their film industries, expressing concern over the potential economic impact of the measure.
Trump had already imposed similar tariffs on other sectors since his return to the White House in January. According to analysts, these policies have disrupted the global trade balance and increased the prices of products worldwide.
Despite the challenges, the United States remains a leader in audiovisual production, although data shows a 26% drop in investment over the past year. Countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have attracted an increasing share of that investment.
A Shot in the Foot: Tariffs Could Harm the U.S. as a Leading Exporter of Digital and Audiovisual Services
Although Trump's stated intention is to revitalize the American film industry, the imposition of a 100% tariff on foreign films and other trade measures could have counterproductive effects for the United States as a global leader in the export of audiovisual and digital services.
On one hand, the U.S. entertainment industry increasingly relies on a global technological infrastructure. Platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video not only distribute content internationally but also depend on data centers, servers, and imported technology, mostly from countries like China.
With the new tariffs, operating costs will rise, and consumers are likely to face increases in their subscription prices, as analyzed by Infobae in early April.
Moreover, the digital services that complement the audiovisual industry—such as cloud storage, online advertising, or payment systems on streaming platforms—will also be affected.
This will impact giants like Google, Meta, and Apple, reducing their international competitiveness, especially if other countries respond with similar measures. In fact, the European Union has already proposed tariffs on exports of American technology services, which could open a front for retaliatory actions.
On the other hand, the rising costs of production within the U.S., combined with the legal uncertainty created by these measures, could discourage investments and promote the permanent relocation of filming and creative talent.
Studies that previously filmed partially abroad to reduce costs may choose to establish complete operations outside the country, thereby avoiding tariff penalties.
In summary, far from strengthening the position of the United States as a creative and digital powerhouse, Trump's new tariffs could undermine the competitiveness of Hollywood and the tech sector, eroding one of the country's main sources of service exports in an already highly competitive and volatile global market.
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