In recent weeks, Donald Trump and his tariffs have dominated global headlines. One of his latest updates has targeted the UK film industry.
The proposed 100% tariff on UK produced movies entering the US market has caused great concern for the British creative sector, raising urgent questions about the future of one of the country’s significant exports.
As trade talks intensify between the UK and the US president, filmmakers, freelancers and industry leaders are bracing for what could be a huge shift in the global entertainment world. In this article, we look at what the tariffs could mean for this country’s film industry and whether the change presents any opportunities for other industries, such as casino gaming.
What Trump’s tariffs mean for the UK film industry
Trump’s announcement about putting a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films, including those produced in the UK, has been framed as an attempt to revive the American movie industry. Trump believes that the industry is dying a very fast death.
For the UK, the consequences could be significant. The film sector is currently valued at more than £1.36 billion and supports over 195,000 jobs, many of which depend on collaborations with the United States and access to the US market.
Industry experts and film industry unions have warned that such tariffs could have a very negative impact on the sector, which is still in the process of recovering from the pandemic and recent production slowdowns.
Philippa Childs, head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU), cautioned that tens of thousands of skilled freelancers could face unemployment if US studios pull productions from the UK.
At present, the UK has high appeal for US filmmakers due to tax incentives, a skilled workforce and English speaking production. If these incentives are negated by tariffs, the amount of investment and number of jobs available could decrease dramatically.
The UK government has responded with a “calm and steady” approach. They are currently engaging in active negotiations with the US to try to lessen the impact and protect British creative industries.
The specifics of the proposed tariff are still unconfirmed and the talks mean that the situation is still evolving rapidly. This is presenting a lot of uncertainty for studios, freelancers and supporting businesses across the country.
Are there any opportunities for other sectors to benefit from the changes?
With the film industry under threat some are beginning to question whether other sectors, like the gaming sector, including casino games, could benefit from the tariffs, or whether they could see negative ripple effects.
For example, if cinema releases decrease or become less accessible, audiences may look for other ways to spend their time.
However, it’s not guaranteed that a decline in film production will result in any positive market changes for gaming.
The film and gaming industries are deeply intertwined. For example, major movie franchises often develop their own successful video games. Top performing films drive cultural trends that benefit both sectors.
If the UK film industry decreases in size, the pipeline of intellectual property that fuels new game development could also decrease, potentially stifling the creativity and collaboration across related entertainment fields.
Also, both industries rely on a robust freelance workforce as well as international investment.
A downturn in film could therefore have a big knock-on effect, reducing disposable income and job opportunities for those who might otherwise contribute to gaming projects. The uncertainty in one creative sector can easily have some impact on the others, making it difficult to predict clearly what the actual results will be.
The Future of the film Industry in the UK and overseas
The long term impact of Trump’s tariffs on UK movies remains to be seen. If implemented, the tariffs could force UK studios to rethink their business models. Some productions may relocate while others may scale back or even cancel their projects altogether.
Internationally, the move could trigger retaliatory measures, further impacting the global entertainment industry, But as the UK government continues negotiations, the hope is to reach a resolution that enables the mutual benefits of the creative partnership.
The gaming and online casino sectors may see increased interest as audiences seek new ways to fill their time.
Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on UK films represents a major challenge for Britain’s creative industries. It is threatening jobs, investment and the country’s status as a global production hub. While the gaming industry could see some benefits from shifting consumer habits, the broader entertainment space is deeply interconnected.
Main header image: Photo by Kévin et Laurianne Langlais
