Global confusion arises after Trump announces plans to levy tariffs on the film industry on a global scale

Modified Chat:

Hey there! Let's dive into some goss about the film industry hopping into turmoil this week.

MARTIN, HOST:

Why the uproar, you ask? Well, President Trump made a splash with his claim on Truth Social that he'd slap a 100% tariff on films cooked up beyond the US borders. On Sunday night, he announced, quote, "the movie biz in America is near death. Other countries flaunt incentives like candy to lure our filmmakers and studios away from the States."

MARTÍNEZ: Now, NPR's entertainment guru, Mandalit del Barco, is joining us to shed some light on this hot topic. Here's the main question on everybody's mind - If a big fat tariff on foreign films hits the States, exactly how would that even work?

DEL BARCO: That's the million-dollar question Hollywood's been scratching their heads over. The initial move from President Trump raised more questions than answers. Who'd be paying the tariff? Would it be the studios, the distributors? Could ticket prices skyrocket? Would this only affect international films or influence American movies filmed abroad? What about TV and streaming shows? Since the announcement, there's been a flurry of emergency meetings, chats, and social media guesses. However, the studios have yet to make a peep. On a brighter note, the head of the union representing behind-the-scenes entertainment workers, IATSE, voiced a concern that any plan shouldn't harm the U.S. or Canadian film industries.

MARTÍNEZ: What are countries offering to attract movie studios and filmmakers, you wonder? Well, it's true that spots like Canada, the UK, Australia, and many more have been enticing productions with generous tax incentives, rebates, and grants to shoot or film in their locales. Some countries have even built new soundstages to draw in productions looking to save a buck. Trump claims these global incentives pose a threat to national security.

MARTÍNEZ: So, what's the buzz overseas about President Trump's announcement?

DEL BARCO: studios, unions, and governments worldwide are worrying that Trump's plan could spell doom for their production industries. Some fear other countries may retaliate with their own tariffs on American films. Trump recently told reporters he wants to sit down with the film industry to ensure they're stoked with his plan to restore movie-making jobs within the U.S.

MARTÍNEZ: Care to guess why this issue surfaced for President Trump?

DEL BARCO: I'll give you a clue - Jon Voight. Trump calls the actor a special buddy, along with Sly Stallone and Mel Gibson. In a video he shared with NPR, Voight gushes over Trump, calling him the greatest prez since Abe Lincoln. Voight claims he presented Trump with a plan to revive the American film industry by implementing federal tax incentives, coproduction treaties with other countries, and subsidies for theater owners and film and TV production companies. Trump lambasted Governor Gavin Newsom for allowing productions to escape California. But late last night, Newsom said he wants to work with the Trump administration to establish a $7.5 billion federal film tax credit.

The tariff Trump proposed on foreign films has raised questions about who would pay, with potential implications for ticket prices and the impact on American and Canadian film industries.
Some countries, such as Canada, the UK, Australia, and others, offer generous tax incentives, rebates, and grants to attract productions, and even built soundstages to draw in productions looking to save costs.
The studios have remained silent on the issue so far, but unions and governments worldwide worry that Trump's plan could lead to retaliatory tariffs on American films and potentially harm their production industries.
The unexpected tariff news on foreign films is generating surprising buzz in entertainment and political circles, with debates about its impact on the movie industry and national security.