‘It’s actually quite distressing’: Calgary industry reacts to Trump film tariff plans

U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s planning a tariff for all films made outside the United States, and that has our local industry worried.

President Donald Trump says he’s planning a 100 per cent tariff on all films made outside of the United States in an effort to bring entertainment industry jobs back to the country.

“It’s actually quite distressing. We’ve worked hard to attract film and television to Calgary. We were named one of the best places to make films by MovieMaker magazine,” said Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.

“I think the policy is misguided.”

The move could disrupt the momentum of the local industry.

“We’ve had more scouting package requests in Q1 than we’ve had in the last 10 years,” said Brad Perry, Calgary Economic Development president and CEO.

“The film industry relies on certainty, and this is sure to destabilize the industry as a whole. If you’re a $100-million movie and you hear about this, you’re probably going to pause the whole thing,” said Lee Proudlock, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) spokesperson.

Proudlock believes film tax credits could be the target of the tariff, but Trump hasn’t released those details.

Many in the industry wonder how it will be applied because film and television content is often produced, filmed and edited in various countries.

“The challenge we have is making sure that our industry partners find some stability,” Perry said.

Last year, more than 4,400 jobs and around $400 million of economic impact were tied to Calgary’s entertainment industry, according to Perry.

An IATSE spokesperson says 85 per cent of the earnings come from international productions.

There are three shows filming in the Calgary area right now, with another expected to start in a month.