A proposed 100% tariff on all movies “produced in Foreign Lands?” In a surprise Truth Social post, the President called runaway production a “National Security threat,” claiming foreign incentives and subsidies were gutting the U.S. industry. The Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative have been tasked with laying the groundwork for enforcement. And while confusion reigns, a new calculus is emerging for studio heads: Why risk it? Just stay home.

Trump’s directive could, ironically, do what years of lobbying failed to achieve—drive a mass return of production to U.S. soil. For domestic producers, soundstage operators, and service vendors, this shock policy move might be the golden ticket. For those prepping to shoot in London, Budapest, or Vancouver, the risk-reward equation just shifted overnight.

With the industry scrambling for clarity, here are the 10 biggest questions everyone from Hollywood to Halifax is asking—along with a closer look at how this chaos could catalyze a U.S. production renaissance:

1. What counts as a “foreign” film?
Will any international location trigger the tariff? Will percentage-based thresholds apply, or is a single overseas day enough? No guidelines have been issued, leaving studios to guess.

2. Will it be retroactive?
Studios fear tariffs could hit films already in production or post. Would Disney’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” currently filming in the U.K., owe 100% on its U.S. box office? The ambiguity is chilling.

3. Are streaming series included?
Trump’s statement mentioned “movies,” but streamers like Netflix rely heavily on global originals. If series like “Squid Game” or “The Crown” are subject to tariffs, it would upend the platform model.

4. What about post-production?
Many U.S. films do VFX or editing in Canada, New Zealand, or Europe. Would overseas post trigger penalties? If so, even U.S.-shot productions could be at risk.

5. What does this mean for U.S. producers?
If enforced, the tariff could drive a seismic shift back to American soundstages. Why gamble on foreign tax credits if the final product gets taxed? Domestic producers may find themselves in high demand.

6. Will this kill co-productions?
Indie films often survive on international co-production deals. A tariff could decimate these arrangements, limiting access to foreign grants and making smaller U.S. projects harder to finance.

7. Can the tariff be enforced under current law?
Legal experts question whether intellectual property like film can even be tariffed under existing trade rules. Expect lawsuits, delays, and lobbying warfare in the months ahead.

8. How will foreign governments respond?
Hollywood exports triple what it imports. Tariffs could spark retaliatory taxes from Europe, Canada, or Asia, slicing into U.S. studio profits and box office performance abroad.

9. Could this lead to a federal film incentive?
If the goal is to reshore production, tariffs alone aren’t enough. Studio insiders are calling again for a long-sought federal incentive to compete with Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

10. Will this actually happen?
Like many Trump edicts, this may be more saber-rattling than policy. But while Wall Street shrugged, the production world is already adapting. For U.S. infrastructure, this could be the spark that lights a comeback.

Bottom Line:
Trump’s proposed film tariffs have thrown the global production playbook into disarray. But amid the uncertainty lies opportunity. For U.S.-based studios, service vendors, and infrastructure developers, this could mark the beginning of a new golden era—if they’re ready to move fast and fill the gap.