UK film industry bodies are preparing to meet with the government to address Donald Trump’s unexpected proposal to impose a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States.
The British Film Commission, which supports international film and TV production in the UK, confirmed it will be holding discussions with ministers in the coming days. The British Film Institute also stated it will engage with the government on the issue.
Such a tariff could significantly impact the UK, which has become a leading destination for Hollywood productions due to its attractive tax incentives, highly skilled crews, and shared language.
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the BFC, said: “While this announcement is clearly concerning, we need to understand the detail surrounding the proposed tariffs. We will be meeting with government and our industry policy group in the coming days to discuss further.
“The UK and U.S. have long enjoyed a strong, shared history of film-making, recently celebrating 100 years of creative collaboration and production. We look forward to continuing that for years to come, to our mutual benefit.”
A BFI spokesperson added: “The BFI is working closely with the UK government, and industry partners in the UK and U.S. while we understand the detail of the proposal. We want to keep collaboration at the heart of our sectors, so we remain a constructive partner to our friends in the US and internationally.”
Caroline Dinenage, chair of UK Parliament’s influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the government must “urgently prioritise” the film industry as part of trade talks with Trump.
“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 U.S.-owned IP, is showing fantastic returns on both sides of the Atlantic,” she said.
Source: Deadline
