President Donald Trump has revived his plan to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, creating fresh uncertainty for Hollywood and streaming platforms. His latest announcement on Truth Social confirmed the tariffs, a shift from earlier claims that he had only authorized trade officials to explore the move .
Trump argues the tariffs are a reciprocal measure against international trade policies. However, entertainment insiders remain unsure how such sweeping action would work or when it might begin.
Impact on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ faces significant risk from the proposal. The service produces and acquires content worldwide, including high-profile projects like F1: The Movie, filmed in Belgium, Italy, the UK, and Japan. Popular series such as Slow Horses, Silo, Bad Sisters, and Foundation also rely heavily on international production .
The unclear part is whether the tariffs would target only films or include television series as well. If enforced, Apple and other studios may face higher costs for producing overseas, undermining one of the main reasons studios film abroad—savings.
Industry Concerns
The entertainment sector questions whether tariffs on films serve any purpose beyond political posturing. Variety and other outlets stress that no major studio or union has requested such a measure. Industry leaders also worry about retaliation, with foreign governments likely to impose their own tariffs on U.S. films. Given America exports more movies than it imports, the move could harm Hollywood’s global dominance .
What Lies Ahead
For now, the timing and scope of the tariffs remain vague. Questions linger about whether they apply to films already completed, projects in post-production, or co-productions split between the U.S. and overseas studios.
If implemented, the tariffs would generate revenue for the U.S. government but raise costs for companies like Apple. More importantly, they could spark a trade war in entertainment, placing global streaming platforms and U.S. film exports at risk.
