Ali Plumb hosts the Nicolas Cage lookalike event for the film 'The Surfer' on Friday, May 02, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

A top UK labor leader has issued a stark warning over US President Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on all foreign films, cautioning that the policy could deal a devastating blow to Britain's film industry.

Philippa Childs, head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu), said Monday that the measure comes at a time when the UK film sector is still trying to recover from the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent industry slowdown.

"These tariffs, coming after Covid and the recent slowdown, could deal a knock-out blow to an industry that is only just recovering and will be really worrying news for tens of thousands of skilled freelancers who make films in the UK," Childs stated.

The UK film industry has emerged as a global production hub in recent years, drawing major Hollywood projects thanks to its skilled workforce and attractive tax incentives. Blockbuster franchises such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Mission: Impossible have relied on UK-based studios and talent, making the sector a key pillar of Britain's cultural economy.

Childs noted this importance, calling the industry "a key growth sector in the government's industrial strategy," and urged immediate action from British officials to mitigate the risk posed by Trump's policy.

Tariff threat

Trump announced the tariff initiative on Sunday, claiming that it was necessary to revive a domestic film industry he described as "dying." He argued that foreign governments are offering tax breaks and subsidies that undercut US competitiveness. "I have ordered the immediate start to the process of imposing 100% tariffs on all foreign films coming into the country," Trump said.

He also framed the issue as a matter of national security and directed the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to begin implementing the tariffs immediately.

The proposal has already triggered concern among British and international filmmakers, who fear the move could lead to reduced market access, disrupted transatlantic partnerships, and major job losses among the tens of thousands of freelancers who power UK productions.

Industry observers warn that even the announcement of such tariffs has generated uncertainty that could jeopardize ongoing projects and investment decisions.