Organizations representing film and audiovisual creators from around the world have launched a global petition in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs on foreign film productions.
The petition – which already has 100 signatories from industry agencies like the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC), and their counterparts across Europe, South Africa, Argentina and Australia – calls on all governments to stand firm and safeguard the systems supporting independent film and audiovisual creation.
“Today, the support for independent film and audiovisual storytelling is under growing threat,” the organizations stated in their global declaration. “We are witnessing increasingly aggressive attempts by powerful political and corporate actors to dismantle the regulatory protections that have long supported diversity and accessibility of cultural expression. The latest announcement from U.S. President [Donald] Trump regarding a plan to impose tariffs on film imports only adds to this threat. It underscores the importance of protecting our ability to tell stories rooted in local cultures, languages, and identities – and to ensure that people everywhere can continue to access and enjoy them. Without these protections and incentives, we will lose a vibrant, diverse and culturally-rich film and audiovisual industry and everyone, everywhere will lose out.”
The groups say Trump’s actions take place alongside wider attacks on freedom of expression, including direct challenges to protections like the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, proposed local content obligations in Australia, screen quotas in Asia, and Canada’s Online Streaming Act requiring streaming services to contribute to domestic production.
The petition urges governments to reaffirm the importance of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which marks its 20th anniversary this year.
“We urge our governments to reinforce its implementation, especially in the face of emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, algorithm-driven platforms, and the growing dominance of global entertainment conglomerates,” the groups stated.
