06.05.2025 (12:01 PM)

US President Donald Trump announced on May 4 that he would impose a 100 percent tariff on imported films as the US film industry is rapidly collapsing, prompting the US Trade Representative, which handles foreign trade policy, to begin implementing tariffs on foreign films.

Trump also complained that foreign countries were luring American film directors and studios with incentives, posting on his social media account Truth Social, “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Before being sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2025, Trump appointed three veteran American artists – actor Jon Voight, actor-director Mel Gibson and director Sebastian Stallone – as special envoys to promote Hollywood.

“They will be special envoys to Hollywood, which has lost many jobs to foreign countries over the past four years, to make it better and stronger,” Trump wrote at the time.

Despite the challenges, the United States remains the world’s leading film production hub, according to film industry research firm ProdPro.

Hollywood has been among the industries hit by Trump’s trade policies. In April, China announced it would reduce the number of American films it would allow to be shown in its country.

The China Film Association said, “The US government’s abusive tariffs on China will definitely reduce the support of Chinese audiences for American films. The association must respect the choice of the audience. The number of American films that will enter the country will be reduced accordingly.”

It’s not easy for international films to be released in mainland China, and if they don’t meet Chinese censorship standards, they are often banned. Avatar 2 was allowed to be released in China, where only a limited number of films are allowed to be released.