Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Monday (Indian time) a new 100 per cent tariff on foreign films, citing concerns over the declining state of the American movie industry. He described it as "dying a very fast death", arguing that the situation poses a national security threat.
Trump also accused other countries of providing various incentives to attract filmmakers and studios away from the US.
"Industry in America is dying a very fast death. Other countries are offering all sorts of movie incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood and many other areas within the USA are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a national security threat," he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
"It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorising the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 per cent tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands. We want movies made in America again," the post added.
Addressing reporters at the White House on Sunday, Trump had blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for the decline in film production in Hollywood, specifically over the last several years.
He said that other nations have been "stealing" the movies and moviemaking capabilities from the US.
"If they're not willing to make a movie inside the United States, we should have a tariff when movies come in," Trump added.
Reports indicate that film production in California has declined due to budget cuts and the lure of more generous tax incentives offered elsewhere. Additionally, the American film industry has faced multiple economic setbacks in recent years, including Hollywood labour strikes and the Covid pandemic.
In January, Trump appointed three film stars—Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone—as special ambassadors to promote business opportunities in Hollywood, referring to the industry as a "great but very troubled place".
Trump stated that their role is to help restore business in Hollywood, asserting that it "has lost much business over the last four years to foreign countries".
"They will serve as special envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to foreign countries, back -- bigger, better and stronger than ever before!" Trump posted during that time.
(inputs from IANS)