U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning about instituting a 100% tariff on films produced overseas as he intensifies trade tensions with international countries.
Attendees of the Cine International Film Festival in Soho this week have expressed their apprehensions regarding the potential impact.
Actor Tamer Hassan remarked, “This will create anxiety and trepidation, particularly among investors, which is our greatest obstacle.”
On May 5, the president declared his intention to empower the Commerce Department to initiate procedures for the tariff, citing that America’s film industry is facing “a rapid demise.”
Later that day, he appeared to ease his position, informing reporters at the White House that he would “engage with the industry” to ensure they are “content” with his proposal.
In reaction, the UK government stated that negotiations with Washington are still in progress and that they are adopting a “calm and measured approach” to alleviate concerns for UK enterprises.
For years, filmmakers have migrated from Hollywood to locations like the UK and Canada in search of more affordable production options.
Hassan further stated, “As creatives, we have a wealth of ideas, but the essential task is securing funding, which is always a challenge. A potential tariff imposed by Trump could make it even harder to attract investment into the film sector.”
Kirsty Bell, the founder and CEO of Goldfinch Productions, noted, “The UK is recognized as an excellent filming destination for various reasons. Our country possesses incredible talent across all facets of filmmaking; depriving these individuals of work opportunities is disheartening.”
She continued, “Trump’s agenda aims to make America great again and promote ‘Made in the USA’ on all products. However, he is clearly unaware of how the film industry operates.”
Ben Charles Edwards, CEO of Dreamtown Entertainment, commented, “The UK boasts a wealth of studios throughout the country, which is exactly what global filmmakers are considering. If America retracts from these discussions, they will be drawn here. I truly believe London and the UK have a chance to benefit from this situation.”
According to government reports from October, the UK film industry is valued at £1.36 billion and employs over 195,000 individuals.
The UK continues its dialogue regarding the film sector, following a conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday.
Details surrounding the proposed tariff have yet to be fully disclosed.
In response to President Trump’s Monday announcement, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the UK government’s Culture Media and Sport Committee, stated, “Last month, our committee cautioned against taking our status as Europe’s Hollywood for granted. Trump’s announcement has made our concerns far too tangible.”
“Making filmmaking in the UK more challenging does not serve American businesses well. Their investment in UK facilities and talent, which relies on U.S.-owned intellectual property, is yielding impressive returns on both sides of the Atlantic. It is imperative that ministers prioritize this issue in the ongoing trade discussions.”
Philippa Childs, head of the media and entertainment trade union Bectu in the UK, expressed, “These tariffs, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent industry slowdown, could deliver a devastating blow to a sector that is just beginning to recover. This is distressing news for thousands of skilled freelancers working in the UK film industry.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey posed a question in the Commons on Wednesday: “Will the Prime Minister collaborate with our allies in Europe and the Commonwealth, making it clear to President Trump that if he engages in a dispute with James Bond, Bridget Jones, and Paddington Bear, he will ultimately be the one to lose?”
