Manitoba reacts to Trump’s film tariff threat

In his latest round of tariff threats, U.S. President Donald Trump took aim at the film industry Sunday, authorizing his government to begin the process of implementing a 100 per cent tariff on all movies produced outside of the United States, a move that could have significant ramifications here in Manitoba.

“Other nations have been stealing the movies, the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” said Trump on Sunday.

On Monday, Premier Wab Kinew said they are taking the threat seriously, specifically when it comes to protecting the intellectual properties of producers here in the province. 

“This is a concern because our film and television industry is great for Manitoba’s economy, and it’s great for the pride,” said Kinew.

“Right now he is talking film and television, but we need to be ready to defend software, we need to defend manufacturing processes whether they are applied to agg, or machinery or what have you, because our economy is not just about producing stuff, its about who owns the trade secrets and the patents to be able to protect those things that produce stuff.”

University of Manitoba, Film Professor Brenda Austin Smith, like many in the industry, questions how the tax would work, given how intertwined the global film industry is. 

“It’s impulsive, it’s not really all that informed, but it has the potential to do a lot of damage,” said Smith.

“This part came from Canada, this part came from the U.S., this part came from Spain, this part came from France, and we are going to tariff what? Only those parts? Or is there going to be a bar percentage of 30 per cent was shot outside of the U.S., or 30 per cent was in postproduction, it’s impossible to predict.”

Of the roughly 80 projects currently filming in Manitoba, Austin Smith estimates 40 per cent are internationally based, but while the threat of tariffs has many on edge, she says it’s too early to panic.

“It may just be impossible for somebody to operationalize without absurdity, so I wouldn’t fall into despair,” said Smith.

Manitoba Film and Music declined an interview, but tells CityNews in a statement that they are monitoring the situation closely, but at this time it is too early to determine the impact of the threat.