Trump’s new bomb: 100% tariff on foreign films! Save Hollywood campaign begins

Political Drama under the Hollywood Sign US President Donald Trump has once again surprised the world – but this time the issue is movies! Yes, now Trump has announced that all foreign movies shown in America will be subjected to a 100% tariff. He says that this step had become necessary because “America’s movie industry is dying – and that too very fast”.

Has the cinema industry become a “National Security Threat”? In his statement, Trump blamed foreign governments that give heavy incentives to attract film productions to their countries. He said, “This is a concerted effort aimed at destroying American cinema. And it’s not just entertainment, it’s also a national security issue. It has become a means of messaging and propaganda.

“Posting on Truth Social, Trump said, “I am authorizing the US Trade Representative to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign movies shown in American theatres.” He says that America’s film industry is “being killed” due to unfair competition.

What is the backdrop of this move? If one looks at recent trends, global cinema has had a strong impact on the American box office in the last few years. The craze of K-pop and Korean cinema, the international reach of Bollywood, and the growing popularity of European arthouse cinema have challenged the traditional dominance of Hollywood.

In this context, Trump’s move appears to be a protectionist measure aimed at reviving the domestic film industry. But is this solution practical?

What do industry experts say? Many in Hollywood are divided over the move. Some call it a political gimmick, while others say it will create a protective shield for the country’s filmmakers.

A Universal Studios executive, on condition of anonymity, said, “This is political theatre. Foreign films’ share in the American market is still limited. The main issue is content quality, not tariffs.

“On the other hand, an independent filmmaker said, “If foreign studios are competing with their tax credits and subsidies, we should also get a level playing field. Trump’s move is a strong signal.”

What will be the impact on Bollywood? This decision can be a major setback for the Indian film industry, especially Bollywood, which has now become quite popular in America through OTT. Many Indian movies and web series have become popular in the US through streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If a tariff is imposed, either their cost may double, or the platforms will stop screening them.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “This will be bad for Indian film exports. We already struggle for distribution rights, now if 100% tariff is imposed then the returns will shrink further.”

What could be the reaction of Europe and Asia? Countries like Europe, South Korea and Japan, where governments actively support the film industry, could have a very strong reaction to this move. EU trade ministers said in a joint statement that if the US does this, it would be a violation of WTO rules.

South Korea’s culture minister said, “Cinema is a global medium. Barriers like this harm mutual cultural exchange. We are planning to file a complaint against it in the WTO.”

Cinema Lovers Ka Reaction: Mixed Emotions Public opinion is also divided on this issue. Some people on social media are saying that the “America First” approach is right to apply to the film industry as well, while some people are saying that Trump is restricting creative freedom.

A user on Twitter wrote, “Trump wants us to only watch Marvel and Top Gun sequels. No thanks.” Another user said, “Good move! Foreign propaganda films have no place in America!”

Its Legal and Economic AngleLegal experts say that Trump’s proposal may go against WTO rules. The World Trade Organization has some exemptions on cultural goods and services, but justifying the tariff on national security grounds is quite controversial.Economists say that these tariffs will hurt the audience. Ticket prices of foreign films will increase, and theaters will screen them less. In the long term, this can also be negative for the US film industry, as international collaborations and co-productions can also be hit.