B.C.’s film sector is bracing for potential fallout after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose 100% tariffs on films produced outside the United States. Declaring that the American film industry is “dying a very fast death,” Trump posted on Truth Social that these tariffs are meant to push production back to U.S. soil, citing foreign tax incentives as a key threat to Hollywood.
The announcement caught the global film industry off guard, with confusion around how such tariffs would be implemented or enforced. It’s unclear whether the proposed tariffs would apply to streaming platforms, television content, or projects involving multiple countries.
B.C. Premier David Eby urged calm, noting the practical difficulties of enforcing such tariffs. “It’s hard to understand how this would work,” he said, referencing successful U.S. productions like Shogun and The Last of Us that continue to film in B.C.
Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland echoed Eby’s doubts, calling the idea a “logistical mess,” and questioned whether U.S. officials would attempt to analyze every scene for Canadian shooting days. He added that while ongoing productions will likely continue, new U.S.-based projects may pause or shift due to uncertainty. Still, he saw a possible upside for domestic filmmakers, as freed-up resources could benefit Canadian-led productions.
Leslie Wootton, executive director of Screen BC, warned that the impact would not be limited to B.C. but would ripple across the global industry—including the U.S. itself. She noted the announcement came just as the B.C. film sector was beginning to recover from COVID-19 disruptions and recent Hollywood strikes. While the province had strengthened its tax policy to attract production, she described the tariff announcement as “unsettling” and lacking specifics.
Reynolds Mastin, CEO of the Canadian Media Producers Association, stressed the importance of a robust domestic media sector in light of growing uncertainty, warning of “significant disruptions and economic impacts on both sides of the border.”
Trump appeared to soften his position the following day, stating he would consult with Hollywood executives to “make sure they’re happy” with any final plan. Yet questions remain—would tariffs apply to American studios filming abroad? How would content on streaming platforms be treated?
Global industry leaders, including Vue cinema chain founder Timothy Richards, pointed out the growing complexity in defining a “U.S. film” and noted the high cost of filming in California as a key reason studios have moved abroad.
With no clear implementation strategy yet, the film industry in B.C. and beyond remains in limbo—watching closely to see whether Trump’s rhetoric turns into policy.
