Excerpt from the weekly SIPP Newsletter
U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced a new tariff initiative targeting foreign-produced films, proposing a 100 per cent tariff on movies made outside the U.S. This would likely impact film hubs outside the U.S. including B.C. In Greater Victoria, the film industry has grown to $60M per year in “production spend” thanks to the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission. In 2022, the B.C. film/tv industry also contributed nearly $4.4 billion to the provincial economy.
In a Truth Social post, Trump framed the move as a response to what he called a “National Security threat,” accusing other countries of luring filmmakers away with incentives. The film industry, already struggling with pandemic setbacks, strikes and wildfires, faces further uncertainty. With American films generating billions in exports, the policy could have far-reaching consequences for both domestic and international markets.
