President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose “100% tariffs” on foreign films in an attempt to support the Hollywood film industry.
He branded foreign film production a “National Security threat” and called for the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to initiate a 100% tariff on any and all movies produced in foreign countries.
Last month, China began considering a ban on all US films in retaliation for Trump raising tariffs on Chinese imports.
In response, two bloggers with links to local authorities shared identical lists of measures that could be introduced by Chinese authorities in response, including reducing or banning the import of US films. The bloggers, Liu Hong and Ren Yi, attributed the plans to sources familiar with the Chinese state’s planning.
In 2024, US films grossed around $585 million in China, representing 3.5% of China’s total $17.71 billion box office. The film sector represents a significant US trade surplus with China, as Chinese films are not as popular overseas.
However, in March, some American-based Chinese campaigned for animated hit “Ne Zha 2” to get an IMAX release in the US, which has already landed a release date for 37 territories across Europe, including the UK and Ireland.
Ne Zha 2, made on an $80 million budget, has already become the highest-grossing animated film in history after making $2.06 billion in China, overtaking last year’s US-made Inside Out 2, which made $1.7 billion worldwide.
