Union warns Trump’s plan for 100% tariff on non-US movies could be ‘knock-out blow’ to UK
Some reaction to bring you now to Donald Trump’s plan to put a 100% tariff on films made outside the US, which we told you about a little earlier (see 15.03 post).
A broadcasting union has said the move could be a “knock-out blow” to the sector in the UK.
Philippa Childs, head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU), said such a move could seriously damage the UK film sector – which is “only just recovering” from the impact of the pandemic, when many productions were delayed or cancelled.
“The UK is a world leader in film and TV production, employing thousands of talented workers, and this is a key growth sector in the government’s industrial strategy,” she said.
“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.”
Ms Childs called on the government to “move swiftly to defend this vital sector, and support the freelancers who power it, as a matter of essential national economic interest”.