U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to impose 100 percent tariffs on films produced outside the country has triggered widespread concern among entertainment professionals, with analysts cautioning the move could cripple the American film sector and reduce global movie output.
William Reinsch, a former U.S. Commerce Department official and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Reuters the proposal would "kill" Hollywood's economic viability. "We have a lot more to lose than to gain," he said, emphasizing the industry's reliance on global partnerships.
Scott Roxborough, Europe bureau chief of The Hollywood Reporter, echoed the sentiment, predicting fewer films would be made overall rather than spurring U.S.-based productions. "The most likely consequence is not that more productions will be done outside of America, or more productions would be done in America, but probably that just fewer productions will [be made]," he explained.
Critics argue the tariff plan, if implemented, could disrupt supply chains, inflate production costs, and strain Hollywood's relationships with international studios — particularly in Asia, where co-productions with markets like South Korea and India have surged in recent years. The proposal also raises questions about its potential ripple effects on streaming platforms and employment in ancillary industries.
