Hollywood dismayed by Trump’s prices on films produced outside the US.

Skepticism reigns in Hollywood in the face of customs duties of 100 % desired by Donald Trump on films produced outside the United States, an idea that professional and experts consider to be unsuitable for the needs of American audiovisual industry.

It makes no sensesaid to theAFP Jonathan Handel. This specialized lawyer recalls that many American productions, from James Bond via the saga Mission Impossibleare turned abroad for obvious creative reasons.

If a waterfall provides that Tom Cruise climbing the Eiffel Tower, what are we supposed to do?he wonders. Film that on the replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas? It is simply absurd.

Donald Trump said on Sunday that his government was starting Immediately the process of establishing customs duties of 100 % On films broadcast in the United States but produced abroad.

Doubts about the applicability of prices

The announcement has plunged industry into uncertainty: studios see their shares fall on the stock market, unions are trying to understand this decision, especially if it also applies to series. And everyone wonders if it is even applicable.

A movie of intellectual propertypointe M. Handel. You can buy a movie ticket, but you do not buy a movie like you buy a garment or a car.

And customs duties would do more harm than goodconsiders the lawyer: This would have the consequence of reducing production, increasing the cost of films, reducing the number of films available for cinemas and distribution platforms, which would affect distribution.

The presidential message caused crisis meetings in Hollywood, according to the specialized press. I do not see any other objective than to sow confusion and divert attentioncomments the manager of a large American distributor with the Deadline site.

Hopefully this will only encourage American states to implement the essential increases in their tax credits as soon as possiblehe adds.

The California Democratic Governor seized the ball, offering Trump to set up a federal plan of $ 7.5 billion to support the sector, in the form of tax credits. California is totally favorable to the idea of ​​attracting more filmingsaid Gavin Newsom, quoted by the New York Times.

American production in decline

Because if the remedy proposed by Donald Trump divides, the diagnosis of an American Moribonde audiovisual production is widely shared.

Since the historical strikes of actors and writers who paralyzed the industry in 2023, Hollywood has struggled to restart.

In Los Angeles, the number of filming days reached a historic low in 2024 – if the complete frost caused by the pandemic in 2020 is excluded.

This is notably due to the relocation of many productions, which studios are increasingly running in countries offering them attractive tax advantages such as Thailand, Hungary or South Africa.

Australia, which also uses these incentives, said on Tuesday by the voice of its Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong that it always wanted to make Great movies with the United States.

Tax credits rather than customs duties

With Deadline, a financier of American cinema is said agree with the objective from M. Trump. More It is obvious that these are tax credits that need, not customs dutieshe underlines. Customs duties will only therefore choke what remains of industry.

A White House spokesman assured on Monday that no decision was made and that the administration explores all the options.

I’m not trying to harm the industry, I want to help itsaid Donald Trump to the press, announcing that he will soon meet representatives of the sector.

The studios have so far kept reacting. As for unions, they adopt cautious language.

That of the actors, the SAG-AFTRA, supports efforts to increase cinematographic, television and broadcasting in the United States and is impatient to find out more.

The United States needs a balanced federal response to bring jobs back to cinema and televisionestimates the IATSE, the Hollywood Technical Trades Union.