Washington: US President Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films risks disrupting Hollywood's reliance on international co-productions and cutting into profits that depend heavily on global audiences, a media professor told Anadolu.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump announced the plan on Truth Social, stating that the measure aims to revive what he described as a dying US film industry, claiming, 'Hollywood is being destroyed' by other countries. He later informed reporters at the White House that the tariffs would specifically target movies made outside the US.
The announcement negatively impacted shares of major Hollywood companies, including Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, while cinema chains such as Cinemark and IMAX also experienced losses.
The policy's scope is yet to be clarified. Experts indicate that the complex nature of film production and distribution, which often involves multiple countries, would make such tariffs challenging to enforce.
Facing industry criticism, Trump softened his stance, indicating he would meet with studio representatives to ensure their satisfaction, emphasizing, 'we're all about jobs.'
The global movie industry, already affected by the pandemic and ongoing labor disputes in the US, currently produces fewer films annually than countries like India, China, and Japan, according to industry data. Meanwhile, international film sectors have surpassed Hollywood in production volume.
Cynthia Lucia, professor of media arts and director of film and media at Rider University in New Jersey, stated that the tariffs would 'bring the US many problems,' particularly by disrupting the international co-productions that Hollywood relies on.
She highlighted The Brutalist, a co-production between the US, UK, Canada, and Hungary, which was nominated for 10 Oscars and won in three categories, including Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures.
Lucia commented that a policy requiring films to be made exclusively in the US would 'weaken the creativity of the industry.' She referenced classics like Lawrence of Arabia, which utilized real desert landscapes in the Middle East, asserting that under a tariff regime, such a film would need to be shot in Arizona or with green screens, reducing quality.
'Bringing a character to life in front of a green screen is much more difficult than an actor performing in a desert in Morocco,' she explained.
Lucia also warned that audiences might face limited access to international titles and noted that actors, production teams, and film companies would all be affected.
She further stated that retaliatory tariffs from other countries could ensue. 'The American film industry generates over half its revenue from international screenings,' she noted, adding that if the plan proceeds, it 'could lead to significantly less profits.'