Donald Trump’s plan to place a 100% tariff on movies made exterior the US could possibly be “a knock-out blow” to the sector within the UK, a broadcasting union has stated.
The president has stated he’ll goal movies made elsewhere as a part of his ongoing tariff struggle, to avoid wasting what he has referred to as the “dying” film trade within the US.
In a publish on his social media platform Fact Social, Mr Trump stated he had authorised authorities departments to place a 100% tariff “on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands”, and described the difficulty as a “national security threat”.
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Donald Trump says the movie trade within the US is ‘dying’. Pic: AP
Responding to his publish, Philippa Childs, head of the Broadcasting, Leisure, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU), stated such a transfer may significantly injury the UK movie sector – which is “only just recovering” from the impression of the pandemic, when many productions had been delayed or cancelled.
“The UK is a world leader in film and TV production, employing thousands of talented workers, and this is a key growth sector in the government’s industrial strategy,” she stated.
Ms Childs referred to as on the federal government to “move swiftly to defend this vital sector, and support the freelancers who power it, as a matter of essential national economic interest”.
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The trade has been hit by the Hollywood strikes in 2023, in addition to the pandemic. Pic: gotpap/STAR MAX/IPx 2023/ AP
It’s unclear how the tariff scheme would have an effect on worldwide productions, such because the upcoming Mission: Not possible – The Last Reckoning, which is filmed within the US in addition to different international locations world wide.
A lot of the 2023 field workplace smash Barbie was filmed on the Warner Bros Leavesden studios, in Hertfordshire, as was Wonka and 2022 hit The Batman, whereas the overwhelming majority of James Bond movies had been shot at Pinewood Studios, in Berkshire.
Kirsty Bell, chief government of manufacturing firm Goldfinch, stated Mr Trump was “right to address the fact that there’s a decline in the entertainment sector” – however the concern is just not overseas movies taking priority over home movies.
“It’s that, firstly, films are cheaper to make overseas, because of lack of tax credits in certain places… the unions, the lower cost of labour, and buying budgets have been drastically reduced over two years, all driven by the change in viewing habits.”
She additionally highlighted that individuals aren’t going to the cinema as a lot and that the trade is “entirely changed” as a result of rise of social media platforms and content material creators.
“The answer is not tariffs if he’s trying to kick-start the industry in Hollywood,” she stated. “It’s developing an ecosystem for film-making that is entirely different to what has been before. There’s seismic changes in how the entertainment industry is structured needing to happen.”
A authorities spokesperson stated talks on an financial deal between the US and the UK had been ongoing – “but we are not going to provide a running commentary on the details of live discussions or set any timelines because it is not in the national interest”.
The most recent tariff announcement from Mr Trump is a part of a wider crackdown on US imports.
US movie and tv manufacturing has been hampered in recent times, with setbacks from the Hollywood strikes of 2023 and the latest wildfires within the Los Angeles space, in addition to the pandemic.
Final yr, the UK authorities launched the Impartial Movie Tax Credit score, which permits productions costing as much as £15m to learn from an elevated tax reduction of 53%.
