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President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on films produced overseas and imported into the United States. The proposal, first suggested in May 2025 and reiterated this week, raises questions about how Hollywood and state-level film industries such as Georgia’s could be affected.
Georgia’s Role in U.S. Film Production
Georgia has built a reputation as one of the country’s leading production hubs. The state offers a 20% tax credit on film projects, with an additional 10% incentive for productions that include the Georgia peach logo in their credits. These incentives helped attract large-scale projects, including nearly two dozen Marvel films and television series.
The program has also contributed to building local infrastructure and a skilled workforce of crew members, technicians, and support businesses. Beyond sets and studios, hotels, restaurants, equipment rental companies, and other local industries benefit from productions filming in the state.
Competition from the United Kingdom
Despite Georgia’s incentives, recent years have seen a shift in high-budget projects to overseas locations. Marvel Studios has moved much of its production to the United Kingdom, with Marvel head Kevin Feige stating the studio will be based there “for the foreseeable future.” Recent Spider-Man and Avengers titles are among the projects filming in the U.K.
The U.K. not only offers its own tax advantages but also attracts studios with lower labor costs and the absence of employer-covered health insurance. These conditions have made it a strong competitor to U.S. states like Georgia.
Trump’s Tariff Proposal
Trump’s proposed 100% tariff is framed as a measure to counter what he describes as foreign nations “stealing” the U.S. film industry. On Truth Social, he wrote:
“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing candy from a baby… WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The president also characterized the situation as a “National Security threat”.
Industry Concerns
Analysts and industry executives note that the plan raises significant legal and logistical questions. Many modern productions involve co-productions and post-production work that span multiple countries, complicating enforcement. According to Reuters, Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight suggested the proposal “raises more questions than answers,” while others warned that additional costs could be passed on to consumers.
Celebrities have also spoken about the broader issue of rising costs and shifting production locations. Mel Gibson recently described filming in Europe as more cost-effective than shooting in Los Angeles. Rob Lowe has criticized California for failing to maintain competitive tax incentives, noting that some foreign markets offer credits as high as 40%.
Implications for Georgia
Over the last two decades, 38 states have distributed more than $25 billion in film incentives, according to The New York Times. Georgia has been one of the most successful, attracting major productions and supporting local economic growth.
If tariffs on foreign-made films are implemented, Trump’s hope is that studios may reconsider their reliance on overseas hubs. For Georgia, the outcome could determine whether large-scale projects return to the state or continue shifting abroad. But there is so much uncertainty it’s impossible to see how this will affect the industry in Georgia.
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