US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened steep tariffs across sectors, has now moved forward with two major announcements targeting both the global film industry and imported furniture.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared his intention to impose a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, claiming that the American film industry had been “stolen by other countries like candy from a baby.”
He singled out California, saying its “weak and incompetent Governor” had failed to protect Hollywood.
“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,” Trump wrote.
In a separate post, the President also revealed plans for “substantial tariffs” on countries that do not manufacture furniture within the United States, citing the collapse of North Carolina’s once-thriving furniture industry.
“This will bring the furniture business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and states all across the Union,” he added, noting that full details would follow.
Hollywood in Crisis
Hollywood, once synonymous with American cinema, has been struggling in recent years. The rise of streaming platforms has cut deeply into box office revenues, while production levels have slowed.
The 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild and labor unions alone caused an estimated $5 billion in losses, with many jobs still not recovered.
Tariffs on Furniture
The latest announcement comes after Trump’s August order launching an investigation into imported furniture. He has now confirmed that a new round of tariffs will begin on October 1, 2025, including:
50% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and related products
30% tariff on upholstered furniture
According to Reuters, US furniture and wood product manufacturing jobs have been cut in half since 2000. In 2024, the US imported $25.5 billion worth of furniture, more than half of it from Vietnam and China.
Economists warn that the higher duties will put additional pressure on manufacturers and retailers already struggling with rising commodity prices and supply-chain disruptions.
Consumers are likely to feel the impact as prices on goods ranging from furniture to electronics continue to climb. |
