Trump promises steep tariffs for foreign movies and imported furniture

"It was unclear how these tariffs would operate, since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports. Nor was it clear what this would mean for US films that depend on foreign locations as part of the story, such as the James Bond franchise. Analysts note that many films are international co-productions. They are also not goods that are imported in a conventional way, meaning the government would have to determine how to value them and when they even qualify as imports."

"Trump made a similar threat in May, directing the Department of Commerce to immediately begin imposing a 100 percent tariff on films produced in Foreign Lands. At the time, he complained the US film industry was DYING a very fast death due to other countries luring filmmakers and studios away with generous incentives, describing it as a national security threat. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Reuters news agency on how the tariffs would be implemented."

"Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby,' he wrote. California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!, he added, in reference to California governor Gavin Newsom, who is a common foil of Trump's."

A 100 percent import tariff on films made outside the United States was proposed to address the perceived loss of the American movie industry. The tariff aims to discourage foreign locations and incentives that attract filmmakers and studios. Implementation details are unclear because films and TV shows can be transmitted digitally and many productions are international co-productions. Determining when a film qualifies as an import and how to value it would pose practical and legal challenges. The measure could raise production costs, affect franchises reliant on foreign settings, and prompt debate over economic and regulatory consequences.

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