What It's Really Like To Work With Elon...

A business partner of mine recently told me how one morning, Elon's "DOGE Agents" simply showed up. The whole departments were merged. Dozens of tasks and contracts were reassigned. Several projects were permanently shut down and replaced. That's when he called me, and I realized what was happening.

Trump threatens 100% tariff on foreign-made films

JILL COLVIN and JAKE COYLE
May 04, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) -- President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war, targeting films made outside the U.S.

In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff "on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."

"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote, complaining that other countries "are offering all sorts of incentives to draw" filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!"

It wasn't immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented. It's common for both large and smaller films to include production both in the U.S. and other countries. Big-budget movies like the upcoming "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," for instance, are shot around the world.

Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot, increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives, like Canada and the United Kingdom.

Yet tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products. And in movie theaters, American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace.

China has ramped up its domestic movie production, culminating in the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" grossing more than $2 billion this year. But even then, its sales came almost entirely from mainland China. In North America, in earned just $20.9 million.

The Motion Picture Association didn't immediately respond to messages Sunday evening.

The MPA's data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas. According to the MPA, the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023.

Trump has made good on the "tariff man" label he gave himself years ago, slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe. That includes a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% baseline tariff on goods from other countries, with even higher levies threatened.

By unilaterally imposing tariffs, Trump has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions. There are tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, with more imports, including pharmaceutical drugs, set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead.

Trump has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas.

Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as "special ambassadors" to Hollywood to bring it "BACK--BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!"

U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Overall production in the U.S. was down 26% last year compared with 2021, according to data from ProdPro, which tracks production.

The group's annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Toronto, the U.K., Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia came out on top, with California placing sixth, Georgia seventh, New Jersey eighth and New York ninth.

The problem is especially acute in California. In the greater Los Angeles area, production last year was down 5.6% from 2023 according to FilmLA, second only to 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. Last, October, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed expanding California's Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually, up from $330 million.

Other U.S. cities like Atlanta, New York, Chicago and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions. Those programs can take the form of cash grants, as in Texas, or tax credits, which Georgia and New Mexico offer.

"Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States," Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida. "If they're not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in."

___

Associated Press writer Gary Field contributed to this report from Washington.

Continue Reading...

Popular

What's in the latest version of Trump's big bill moving through the Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are inching closer to getting their tax and spending cut bill through Congress with a final Senate vote likely late Monday or early Tuesday.

How High Will Gold Surge? - Ad

Gold is on fire - hitting $3,500 and outpacing stocks, tech, even Bitcoin. Analyst Sean Brodrick called it, and now he's forecasting a surge to $6,900. But the biggest opportunity isn't bullion. It's a little-known investment that's returned up to 1,000x more than physical gold.

China lifts a nearly 2-year ban on seafood from Japan over Fukushima wastewater

BEIJING (AP) — China has to seafood from Japan after a nearly two-year ban over the discharge of slightly radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Protect Your Nest Egg With These Inflation-Fighting Stocks - Ad

The Fed's warning us. Inflation just hit a 40-year high-devouring nest eggs by 7.5%. Want to dodge its bite? This "map" could be the key. Inside is a treasure trove of income stocks yielding 33% a year. It's time to fight back. But don't wait-the longer you sit, the more you lose.

Lockheed Martin, RTX, General Dynamics And Other Defense Stocks Rise In Friday Pre-Market: What's Going On?

Shares of defense stocks Rtx Corp (NYSE: RTX), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE: LMT) and General Dynamics Corp (NYSE: GD) climbed 4.6%, 4.2% and 1.2%, respectively during Friday pre-market trading session amid Israel's intensifying military operations in Lebanon and Iran.

Quantum Stocks Surge And Stumble: Here's What Happened This Week

Quantum Computing announced a $200 million private placement, Microsoft's CEO said quantum computing could take scientific advancements to the next level and more from the week.

Trump Knows Exactly What He's Doing - Ad

Trump's comments aren't random - they're calculated triggers that move markets. I've tracked a pattern in how he signals key shifts... and it's helped me pinpoint tickers I believe could double. His next move? July 30. And it could spark his biggest market wave yet.

Iran's Top Diplomat To UN Says Uranium Enrichment To Continue: An 'Inalienable Right'

Iran reaffirms commitment to nuclear program despite US strikes. Ambassador cites Non-Proliferation Treaty as justification. Impact remains debated.

A judge resisted Trump’s order on gender identity. The EEOC just fired her

The federal agency charged with protecting workers’ civil rights has terminated a New York administrative judge who , including President Donald Trump’s executive order decreeing male and female as .

The Missing Ingredient for Big Tech's $3T Recipe? - Ad

Big Tech doesn't build everything; they buy what's next. And only Emteq's tech offers real behavior insights for smart glasses, key to unlocking the $3T XR market. Their patented sensors track live facial muscle movements. With health-focused smart glasses in demand, only Emteq has this tech.

Trump's Tariffs, Boeing's Blowout, Tesla's Robotaxi, BYD's European Triumph And GM's Massive Recall: This Week In Mobility

This week's business and finance highlights include Japan's rejection of Trump's auto tariffs, Boeing's scrutiny over a mid-air incident, Tesla's Robotaxi launch, BYD's dominance in Europe, and GM's massive vehicle recall.

Nike soars on a production shift away from China, but it warns of a $1 billion tariff hit

Nike's shares jumped at the opening bell Friday after the company said it's shifting some production away from China. But it also warned that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will cost it about $1 billion before it makes internal changes, which include “surgical” price increases in the U.S. starting this fall.

A 64% Dividend From Gold? - Ad

Gold is soaring. But here's what no one's talking about: a way to earn a 64% dividend-paid in real cash every 30 days. No trading. No risky mining stocks. Just one simple move in your brokerage account... and you could start collecting monthly income almost instantly.

These are the celebs who are attending Jeff Bezos’ Venice wedding

VENICE, Italy (AP) — arrived in Venice on Thursday, leading a star-studded guest list of celebrities descending on the lagoon city for the weekend wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.

The No. 1 Gold play right now (not a miner, ETF, or bullion) - Ad

World Gold Council reports: "No sign" of this catalyst slowing A whopping 73% of Americans report they're "financially stressed." Over 2.2 million Americans saw their credit score fall 100 points from late payments. And everything from Red Lobster to Walmart to CVS is closing stores. What happens next will be even worse, but could hand savvy gold investors huge gains. There IS a right way to buy gold.

A hard-right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece’s migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following

This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days — Now Expert Says It 'Looks Potentially Explosive'

Experts have been betting on the growth prospects of Oscar Health, as it surged by 16.51% on Wednesday and 32.56% in the last five days.

Consumer apocalypse now imminent - Ad

World Gold Council reports: "No sign" of this catalyst slowing A whopping 73% of Americans report they're "financially stressed." Over 2.2 million Americans saw their credit score fall 100 points from late payments. And everything from Red Lobster to Walmart to CVS is closing stores. What happens next will be even worse, but could hand savvy gold investors huge gains. There IS a right way to buy gold.

Outrage Mounts Over Trump's Appointment of 22-Year-Old to Terrorism Unit Amid Iran Crisis

In a move that has drawn widespread criticism, President Donald Trump has appointed 22-year-old Thomas Fugate to a critical terrorism-prevention role, amidst rising tensions with Iran.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Trump's 'Numbskull' Insult Comes Back To Bite—In Record Time

Oil prices surged after Israel's airstrikes on Iran, reigniting inflation fears and complicating Trump's push for rate cuts. Powell's caution now seems more justified.

This Is the Biggest Economic Story Nobody's Talking About (Yet) - Ad

One expert investor has recently visited Beijing, Singapore, and Hong Kong looking for the next big tech breakthrough. But it was a two-minute encounter at San Francisco's airport that stopped him dead in his tracks. It's part of a larger trend that PwC says could be worth $16 trillion and Goldman Sachs says could cost 300 million people their jobs globally.

Chime's IPO Marks Another Successful Wall Street Debut

Chime's strong debut is seen as a positive sign for the U.S. IPO market, which has been sluggish for several years. But that may be changing.

What It's Really Like To Work With Elon... - Ad

A business partner of mine recently told me how one morning, Elon's "DOGE Agents" simply showed up. The whole departments were merged. Dozens of tasks and contracts were reassigned. Several projects were permanently shut down and replaced. That's when he called me, and I realized what was happening.

YouTube Contributed $55 Billion To US GDP, New Report Reveals: 'The Creator Economy Is Just Getting Started,' Says CEO Neal Mohan

YouTube's creative ecosystem contributed $55 billion to the U.S. GDP in 2024, marking a $20 billion increase from 2022, as CEO Neal Mohan highlighted the growing momentum of the creator economy.

Sig Sauer, faced with lawsuits over a popular pistol, gets protection in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Faced with mounting lawsuits over a popular pistol, New Hampshire-based Sig Sauer asked for — and got — protection in the form of a new state law that makes it harder to .

How High Will Gold Surge? - Ad

Gold is on fire - hitting $3,500 and outpacing stocks, tech, even Bitcoin. Analyst Sean Brodrick called it, and now he's forecasting a surge to $6,900. But the biggest opportunity isn't bullion. It's a little-known investment that's returned up to 1,000x more than physical gold.

Trump says he’s terminating trade talks with Canada over tax on technology firms

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s immediately suspending over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.”

Arrive AI (ARAI) Stock Skyrockets 79% On New Climate-Control Patent

Arrive AI stock is skyrocketing over 114% after the company announced a new patent. Its new patent enables smart mailboxes to heat or cool time-sensitive package deliveries.

Protect Your Nest Egg With These Inflation-Fighting Stocks - Ad

The Fed's warning us. Inflation just hit a 40-year high-devouring nest eggs by 7.5%. Want to dodge its bite? This "map" could be the key. Inside is a treasure trove of income stocks yielding 33% a year. It's time to fight back. But don't wait-the longer you sit, the more you lose.

Trump says he's not planning to extend a pause on global tariffs beyond July 9

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is not planning to extend on most nations beyond July 9, when the negotiating period he set would expire, and his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are

Trump's Crypto Ventures, Draper And Cathie Wood's Bitcoin Predictions, MSTR Estimates, And More: This Week In Crypto

The past week in the world of cryptocurrency was nothing short of eventful. From legislative moves aimed at curbing alleged corruption in cryptocurrency ventures to bold predictions about Bitcoin’s dominance, the week was filled with intriguing developments. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines.

Trump Knows Exactly What He's Doing - Ad

Trump's comments aren't random - they're calculated triggers that move markets. I've tracked a pattern in how he signals key shifts... and it's helped me pinpoint tickers I believe could double. His next move? July 30. And it could spark his biggest market wave yet.

Big Banks Pass Fed's 2025 Stress Test With Ease—But Some Say It Was Too Easy

All major U.S. banks passed the Fed's 2025 stress test, but critics say easier assumptions may have padded the results.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright systemtrading.ca
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service