Canadian arts and culture groups say the threat of new U.S. tariffs against foreign film productions would cause significant disruption on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Sunday night that the American film industry was dying “a very fast death” as other countries offer incentives to draw productions outside the U.S.
“Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” wrote Trump. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The move follows a statement from China last month indicating it would reduce the number of U.S. films it imports in the wake of a 145% tariff on many goods.
Film and television production volumes have been down in many centres across North America, driven in part by two lengthy U.S. labour strikes, the recent L.A. fires, a slowdown in commissioning of Canadian content, and other disruptions as the industry adapts to evolving digital monetization models.
Total production volume declined by 18.5% in Canada in 2023/24, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) Profile 2024 report. Foreign local and service (FLS) production volume declined from 6.4 billion in 2022/23 to 4.73 billion in 2023/24. The majority of FLS production in Canada takes place in B.C. ($1.68B), Quebec ($1.42B), and Ontario ($1.28B). FilmLA’s year-end production numbers were down 5.6% from the previous year and 40% from 2022, making 2024 the second least productive year on record.
CMPA and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) say the proposed 100% tariff on foreign-produced films would directly threaten Canada’s media production sector.
“While specific details are far from clear at this point, the proposed actions outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement will cause significant disruption and economic hardship to the media production sectors on both sides of the Canada-US border,” said Reynolds Mastin, President & CEO. “Yesterday’s announcement, and the uncertainty it has caused, underscore the incredible importance of ensuring that Canada has a strong, independent domestic media industry. We look forward to making this case at the upcoming CRTC C-11 hearings later this month.”
With Prime Minister Mark Carney set to meet with Trump on Tuesday in Washington, ACTRA President Eleanor Noble is calling on the federal government to stand firm in defending Canada’s cultural industries.
“This is more than a trade dispute — it’s an attack on the livelihoods of Canadian performers and creators,” said Noble.
Noble says with Canada’s film, television, and digital media sector contributing over $11 billion to the national GDP in 2023/24, the imposition of cultural tariffs would not only destabilize decades of industry collaboration, but also threaten thousands of jobs.
“Now is the time to invest in a strong, truly domestic media production industry that can withstand external threats and thrive on the global stage,” Noble continued. “ACTRA urges Prime Minister Carney and Canada’s trade team to take a Team Canada approach — one that protects our performers, strengthens our cultural infrastructure, and ensures Canadian stories are seen here at home and around the world.”
