By 18 Comments
Copyright news
The US President, who first floated the move in May, confirmed overnight he would go ahead with it in a social media post declaring his country’s “movie making business has been stolen” by the likes of Australia.
“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United of America, by other Countries, just like stealing ‘candy from a baby’,” he wrote.
“California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit!
“Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.”
Mr Trump’s original threat in May sent a shockwave through Australia’s film industry, which, mostly due to lower production costs, has benefited greatly from a surge in American interest since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong pushed back at the time, saying the relationship worked both ways and that “collaboration is a good thing”.
Disney and its subsidiaries Marvel and Industrial Light and Magic have invested particularly heavily.
NewsWire has contacted Arts Minister Tony Burke and film industry representatives for comment.
More to come.
