100 % tax on films shot abroad! Donald Trump makes the film industry tremble
“We Want Movies made in America, Again!” The American president extends his trade war to the film industry and threatens to destabilize the world market.
No doubt, it will cause the Croisette to be caused next week. While the Cannes Film Festival is preparing to open its doors, Donald Trump has just swung a bomb that may make coughs to the red steps.
Sunday evening, on its social social platform, Donald Trump announced that it “authorizes” the US trade department as well as the representative for foreign trade to launch a process aimed at imposing A 100 % tax on all films produced abroad. And not only for Chinese or Russian films – all Foreign films, so also films produced in France!
“The film industry in America dies at full speed”, writes Trump. “”The other countries offer all kinds of incentives to attract our directors and studios. It is a coordinated effort. It is a threat to national security. And in addition to everything, it’s propaganda! We want movies made in America, again!“”
Result ? Panic in Hollywood. Crisis meetings in major studios, total legal, uncertainty about films already shot abroad (isn’t it Avatar 3,, Avengers: Doomsday Or Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning mainly shot in the United Kingdom). Only one thing is certain: no one had seen that coming.
For the moment, Trump has signed nothing. He just gave the “authorization” to launch the process. But even this announcement is enough to shake the industry, already in bad shape from the covid. As stiff in the Specialized American magazine Variety :: “No one – absolutely no one – in Hollywood requires a tax on foreign films. Who wants that? Not Hollywood.”
Especially since the announcement raises more questions than answers. A half shot film abroad and edited in Los Angeles, is it concerned? And a film produced by Disney in New Zealand, is it an import or a simple house extension? And the platforms? Netflix produces abroad but diffuses everywhere … Where does “America” start and where ends in this story?
As we know, American studios have been running for years in Canada,, United Kingdom,, Australia,, New Zealand,, Hungary… For tax, logistics or artistic reasons. Big franchises like James Bond Or Fast and Furious take the opportunity to go around the world camera in the fist. And for Trump, it becomes a threat.
So, Operation Com ‘or real protectionist strategy? For the time being, Trump just said he “allowed“The representative in trade and the trade department to impose this 100 % tax on foreign films. He did not say that he was really going to do it. And as often with his threats of prices, He has already taken action to take action … as to retreat under pressure. Before meeting in Cannes, the world of cinema retains its breath.
