Despite the new trade deal, could tariffs still destroy the UK film industry?

Britain and America celebrated their first trade deal under Trump yesterday, but the UK film industry is not as thrilled due to the looming threat of 100% tariffs on foreign-made films entering the US market. This protectionist move by Trump aims to boost America’s domestic film industry, causing concern in Britain’s £1.36 billion film sector that heavily relies on collaborations with US studios.

The UK film industry, which employs over 195,000 people, could face devastating effects if US films stop being produced in the UK. This challenge comes at a time when the industry is still recovering from the impact of COVID-19 and recent strikes, putting thousands of skilled freelancers at risk.

While Trump initially announced the tariffs as part of an effort to revive Hollywood, industry experts like Russell Owen and Miles Watts believe that such measures could backfire and harm the global film industry. They emphasize the importance of open discussions and solutions to address the challenges faced by the industry post-pandemic, fires, strikes, and now tariff threats.

The UK government is engaging in negotiations with Washington to address the situation cautiously. The interconnected nature of the global film industry highlights the potential risks these tariffs pose to all parties involved, urging for collaborative efforts to find balanced solutions and mutual advantages for film production worldwide.