Trump declares 100% tariffs for films made outside the US

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on all films made outside the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the American film industry had been “stolen... just like stealing candy from a baby.” He had previously talked about introducing these tariffs earlier in May but offered little details.

The news raises questions about the legality and enforceability of the policy. Modern film productions often involve multiple countries for financing, visual effects, and post-production, making enforcement complicated.

Édaín O Donnell, director of West Cork Film Studios, told the Irish Examiner this decision would “put the final nail in the coffin of the film industry in the US,” arguing that American studios rely heavily on European co-productions.

Ireland’s screen sector has seen rapid growth, with a 33% increase in production spend in 2024, as well as the rise of Irish studios such as Element Pictures, who co-produced Poor Things, On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, and The Eternal Daughter, among others.