Various countries, such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, are seeing an increase in film and television production, partly due to attractive tax incentives and lower production costs. The trade association Motion Picture Association was not available for comment outside of regular business hours.
Amid this situation, New Zealand has criticized the possible imposition of tariffs by Trump on foreign films. Irene Gardine, president of the New Zealand film producers' guild Spada, expressed confusion over Trump's statement. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon defended the local film industry, highlighting the quality of its productions and the value of the jobs generated.
New Zealand, famous for its beautiful landscapes and attractive production incentives, has been the setting for numerous American films. Despite this, Trump stated his desire to see more movies made in the United States and mentioned foreign productions as a threat to national security.
Trump's reaction has impacted the market, with declines in shares of companies like Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount Global, and Walt Disney. Uncertainty has raised questions about how the tariff will affect already filmed movies and whether it will only apply to new productions.
The American film industry, while dominant globally, has seen an increase in the popularity of foreign films in recent years. Trump's proposal to impose a 100 percent tariff on films produced abroad presents challenges for both the industry and the public.
Trump's plan has generated concern among analysts and industry players, who fear that the measure may harm the very industry it seeks to protect. Meanwhile, in New Zealand and Australia, the film industry is expected to be affected by this decision.
