Australia, New Zealand pledge assist for movie trade after Trump proposes tariffs


New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Canakkale, Turkiye on April 25, 2025.

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Australia and New Zealand vowed to advocate for his or her movie industries Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump introduced a plan to impose 100% tariffs on foreign-made motion pictures.

Australia and New Zealand have emerged as common filming areas for Hollywood motion pictures lately, given decrease prices and tax incentives from federal and state governments.

Earlier, Trump stated in a submit on Fact Social that it was resulting from incentives provided by different international locations to lure filmmakers that the American film trade was dying a “very quick dying”.

He stated he was authorizing the related authorities companies, such because the Division of Commerce, to instantly start the method of imposing a 100% tariff on all movies produced overseas which can be then despatched into america.

Australia’s residence affairs minister, Tony Burke, stated he had spoken to the pinnacle of presidency physique Display screen Australia, which provides funding to assist the event, manufacturing and advertising of display content material, in regards to the proposed tariffs.

“No person needs to be below any doubt that we’ll be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian display trade,” Burke stated in a press release.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated the federal government was awaiting additional particulars on the proposed tariffs.

“We’ll should see the element of what truly in the end emerges. However we’ll be clearly an amazing advocate, nice champion of that sector and that trade,” he stated.

The Australian movie and tv sector was value over A$4 billion ($2.58 billion) in 2022, in response to the nation’s statistics bureau.

Australia was the filming location for the Matrix franchise and is a everlasting base for studios together with Marvel, whereas New Zealand is greatest often called the filming location of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

The Australian authorities has dedicated A$540 million in tax incentives since 2019 to draw worldwide productions, with the majority going to Hollywood motion pictures similar to Marvel’s “Thor: Love and Thunder”, Common’s “The Fall Man” and Legendary Footage’ “Godzilla vs Kong”.

In New Zealand, the movie sector generates NZ$3.5 billion ($2 billion) yearly, with round a 3rd of income coming from the U.S., its international ministry stated in a March 2025 report.