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Sunday, Jan 18, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Proposes 100% Tariffs on Foreign Films, Impacting Australia's Film Industry
Australia's government pledges to support its film sector amidst proposed U.S. tariffs that could disrupt international productions.
The Australian federal government has announced its commitment to support the local film industry in light of proposed 100% tariffs on foreign film productions, as declared by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump's statement, made via social media, claimed that the American film industry is suffering due to competition from international markets that are attracting filmmakers with lucrative incentives.
He suggested that countries like Australia are offering financial advantages that undermine U.S. cinema.
The tariffs, if implemented, are expected to have significant implications for Australia, which is often referred to as "Hollywood Down Under" due to its popularity as a filming location.
Recent major productions in Australia include titles such as "The Fall Guy," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," and "Thor: Ragnarok."
Australia currently offers a location offset scheme that provides a 30% rebate for large budget film projects filmed within its borders, along with additional state-level incentives for film and post-production activities.
However, the announcement of tariffs could undermine these incentives, potentially deterring productions aimed at the lucrative U.S. market.
Screen Producers Australia (SPA), a leading industry body, expressed concern that Trump's tariff proposal would create uncertainty across the global film landscape.
SPA chief executive Matthew Deaner remarked that the exact ramifications of the announcement are still unclear, but acknowledged that it could have widespread effects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented on possible responses to the situation but refrained from detailing specific measures regarding the film industry tariffs.
Meanwhile, Arts Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government would actively defend the rights of the Australian screen industry.
According to Screen Australia, foreign productions constitute a substantial part of the local film sector, with approximately half of the $1.7 billion spent on screen production in Australia during the 2023/24 fiscal year attributed to international projects.
This includes an estimated $767 million on foreign film and television productions.
The uncertainty surrounding the tariff implementation raises concerns about its potential effects on the export of Australian content to the U.S., suggesting that it may lead to increased ticket prices for viewers of films like George Miller's "Mad Max" franchise.
In his commentary, Trump characterized foreign film incentives as a national security threat, suggesting that other nations are aggressively competing against U.S. productions through financial advantages.
This statement reflects ongoing debates around the competitive landscape of the global film industry and the need for domestic protections.
Trump's statement, made via social media, claimed that the American film industry is suffering due to competition from international markets that are attracting filmmakers with lucrative incentives.
He suggested that countries like Australia are offering financial advantages that undermine U.S. cinema.
The tariffs, if implemented, are expected to have significant implications for Australia, which is often referred to as "Hollywood Down Under" due to its popularity as a filming location.
Recent major productions in Australia include titles such as "The Fall Guy," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," and "Thor: Ragnarok."
Australia currently offers a location offset scheme that provides a 30% rebate for large budget film projects filmed within its borders, along with additional state-level incentives for film and post-production activities.
However, the announcement of tariffs could undermine these incentives, potentially deterring productions aimed at the lucrative U.S. market.
Screen Producers Australia (SPA), a leading industry body, expressed concern that Trump's tariff proposal would create uncertainty across the global film landscape.
SPA chief executive Matthew Deaner remarked that the exact ramifications of the announcement are still unclear, but acknowledged that it could have widespread effects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented on possible responses to the situation but refrained from detailing specific measures regarding the film industry tariffs.
Meanwhile, Arts Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government would actively defend the rights of the Australian screen industry.
According to Screen Australia, foreign productions constitute a substantial part of the local film sector, with approximately half of the $1.7 billion spent on screen production in Australia during the 2023/24 fiscal year attributed to international projects.
This includes an estimated $767 million on foreign film and television productions.
The uncertainty surrounding the tariff implementation raises concerns about its potential effects on the export of Australian content to the U.S., suggesting that it may lead to increased ticket prices for viewers of films like George Miller's "Mad Max" franchise.
In his commentary, Trump characterized foreign film incentives as a national security threat, suggesting that other nations are aggressively competing against U.S. productions through financial advantages.
This statement reflects ongoing debates around the competitive landscape of the global film industry and the need for domestic protections.
