Share
U.S. President Donald Trump is focusing on Canada’s film industry in his latest attack on Canadian jobs, ordering the U.S. Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States.
"Once again, President Trump is using bogus national security claims to justify punishing tariffs against Canadian workers," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "This is an attack on one of Canada’s key cultural and economic sectors, and it’s nothing short of outrageous."
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that tax incentives offered by Canada and other countries to attract film production amount to "a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!"
While it remains unclear when and at what percentage the tariffs would be imposed, it is also uncertain whether they would apply to movies streamed online or if Trump intends to extend the measure to television production.
"Let’s be clear — American states offer the same kinds of incentives," Payne added. "This isn’t about fairness. It’s about political theatre that risks gutting jobs, closing studios, and stalling the hard-won recovery of Canada’s production industry."
A recent industry survey ranked Toronto as the top global production hub, with Vancouver placing third among the top five preferred filming locations worldwide.
Unifor, which represents workers across Canada’s film and television sectors, including members of Local 700/NABET and ACFC West Unifor local 2020, warns that this tariff threat takes direct aim at the heart of Canada’s world-class production industry.
Unifor is also raising concerns that U.S. trade officials may target Canada’s Online Streaming Act, which requires streaming services earning over $25 million in Canadian revenue to contribute 5% toward funds that support Canadian film, TV, news, and music.
