Donald Trump’s threat to applying 100% tariffs on movies produced outside the US could “destroy” the British film industry, the ministers were warned because that they had direct pressure to find out priorities of problems in business conversations with the White House.
In the extraordinary intervention, Trump announced his intention to impose a fee on all movies “produced in foreign lands”, stating that the American film industry suffers from “very fast death” because of this of encouragement abroad. Great Britain belongs to countries offering generous tax incentives.
The US President said that he had already ordered the Department of Trade and the US trade representative to begin instituteing such a tariff. He said that the problem was a “threat to national security” due to the “joint effort of other nations” to be able to attract production. “Hollywood is destroyed,” he wrote on his social platform. “Other nations have stolen our film industry.”
His explosion caused immediate concern in Great Britain, the regular location of a few of the largest film productions in Hollywood, including Barbie, parts of the Mission Impossible and Disney’s Star Wars Productions franchise.
“These tariffs, coming after Covid and a recent slowdown, could deal with a knockout blow to the industry, which only recovers and will be really worried about tens of thousands of qualified freelancers who make films in Great Britain,” said Philippa Childs, head of The Creative Industries Union Bect.
“The government must move quickly to defend this important sector and support the freelancers who supply it because of the basic domestic economic interests.”
One older figure in the British creative sector said: “If it becomes real, it will be huge. She could destroy the British film industry and his crew … If he goes to television, we might as well pack and go home.”
Older politicians call on the Keira Starmer government to find out the priority of the British film industry in business talks in the US, although the sources have already informed The Guardian that the contract is a priority for Trump in the second row.
Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: “Last month, the Committee for Culture, Media and Sports warned against self -complacency before our status of Hollywood of Europe. The announcement of President Trump issued this warning too real.
“Difficulties in creating movies in Great Britain will not be in the interest of American corporations. Their investments in facilities and abilities in Great Britain, based on the IP belonging to the US, show improbable phrases on each side of the Atlantic. Ministers must urgently establish priorities as part of economic negotiations.”
James Frith, a member of the committee’s work, warned that all tariffs about film production in Great Britain would be self -sufficient. “Our success relies on a world-class talent, the most up-to-date locations, comparable to Pinewood, Leavesden and Belfast, and attractive tax incentives that attract large international productions,” he said. “All American tariffs for foreign movies would harm not only British works and creativity, but in addition American studies and audiences that depend on our qualified knowledge about the workforce and production knowledge. It is in the interest of everyone to guard this deep, very successful partnership.”
The industry experts said that it is not clear how the tariffs will work in practice, adding that they would eventually punish American studies and limit the production and workplaces. It is understood that large studies are trying to look for clarity in the field of plans.
Ministers talk to industry bodies and counterparts in the USA about what Trump’s statement can mean. Trump is in the face of resistance in the USA with such as Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, whose office claimed that the president has no right to apply such tariffs.
Trump’s declaration was not a complete surprise for industry and outside people, taking into account his statement that he wants to intervene to help “restless” Hollywood. Before the inauguration, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight appointed “Special Ambassadors” accused of restoring the production lost in “foreign countries”.
According to Filml, non-profit organization, film and television production in Los Angeles has fallen by almost 40% over the past decade.
Trump’s movement can also be a reaction to the decision of the Chinese film administration in April about “moderately reducing the variety of American imported movies” in response to the US tariff to China.
