Trump film tariffs may cause 'fear and unrest'

US President Donald Trump has threatened to apply a 100% charge against movies made in foreign countries, as he ramps up trade disputes with global nations.

Filmmakers who attended the Cine International Film Festival in Soho this week have spoken of their concerns.

Actor Tamer Hassan said: "It's going to cause unrest and fear, especially within investors, that's our biggest hurdle."

On Monday 5 May, the US president announced that he was authorising the commerce department to start the process to impose the levy because America's film industry was dying "a very fast death".

He appeared to soften his stance later that day, telling reporters at the White House he was going to "meet with the industry" to "make sure they're happy" with his proposal.

In response, the UK government said trade negotiations with Washington were ongoing and it was taking a "calm and steady approach" to talks in a bid to "ease pressure on UK businesses".

For years, filmmakers have been leaving Hollywood for destinations including the UK and Canada to lower costs.

Mr Hassan added: "We all have great ideas as creatives and the fundamental part of it is raising money and to bring money into the film industry is always difficult but, with Trump potentially hitting us with a tariff could make it more difficult."

Kirsty Bell, founder & CEO, Goldfinch Productions said: "The UK is seen as a brilliant place to film for a lot of different reasons.

"We have extreme talent here in every area of filmmaking and to deny those people the opportunity to work is soul destroying."

She added: "What Trump wants to do is to make America big again and wants to put 'Made in the USA' on all his products, but what he doesn't know is about the film industry - he does not actually know how our film industry works."

Ben Charles Edwards, the CEO of Dreamtown Entertainment said: "We have a plethora of studios up and down the UK, it is those sort of things the rest of the world will be looking at and if America remove themselves from the discussion, they're looking here.

"And I do think there is an opportunity for London and the UK to take from this potential situation."

The UK film sector is worth £1.36bn and employs more than 195,000 people, the government said in October.

The UK is continuing to negotiate on the film industry, following conversations between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday.

Much of the detail of the new tariff has yet to be confirmed.

Commenting on President Trump's announcement on Monday, the UK government's Culture Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said: "Last month the Culture, Media and Sport Committee warned against complacency on our status as the Hollywood of Europe. President Trump's announcement has made that warning all too real.

"Making it more difficult to make films in the UK is not in the interests of American businesses. Their investment in facilities and talent in the UK, based on US-owned IP, is showing fantastic returns on both sides of the Atlantic. Ministers must urgently prioritise this as part of the trade negotiations currently under way."

Head of media and entertainment trade union Bectu in the UK, Philippa Childs, said: "These tariffs, coming after Covid and the recent slowdown, could deal a knock-out blow to an industry that is only just recovering and will be really worrying news for tens of thousands of skilled freelancers who make films in the UK."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked in the Commons on Wednesday: "Will the prime minister work with our allies in Europe and in the Commonwealth and make clear to President Trump that if he picks a fight with James Bond, Bridget Jones and Paddington Bear, he will lose?"

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