Canadian stakeholders wonder if television production in Trump’s sights

It is unclear if U.S. President Donald Trump plans to extend his proposed film tariffs to television production, but Canadian stakeholders are concerned that the industry could be affected. The president made a social media post on the weekend calling for a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the United States. He did not provide further clarity on what those tariffs could entail. The Hollywood Reporter reported Monday that the White House said no final decisions on film tariffs had been made. Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv Network Inc., told The Wire Report he knows of at least one movie which has halted production in Canada due to the president’s social media post. He points out that there is a movement in the United States to return film and TV production to the nation. Danks worries a new tariff would be onerous. “This is even more complicated than auto-making,” he wrote in an email. “Does this apply to TV as well? How are the tariffs calculated?” Danks recounts that the CRTC’s Canadian content (CanCon) hearings will begin in a few weeks. He finds Trump’s timing “interesting.” The presidential statement should change the tenor of the talks. “For the past three years leading up to this hearing, the lines have been drawn between those who want the benefits to go to the domestic industry and those that want the definition to be changed to ensure service productions made for the U.S. studios count as Canadian content,” he noted. Also criticising the American president's proposal is the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). “While specific details are far from clear at this point, the proposed actions outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement will cause significant disruption and economic hardship to the media production sectors on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border,” CMPA president Reynolds Mastin said in a statement. Mastin vowed to make his case during the CRTC proceedings. The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) called for the newly elected federal government to stand up for its membership. “Now is the time to invest in a strong, truly domestic media production industry that can withstand external threats and thrive on the global stage,” Eleanor Noble, national president of the union, was quoted as saying in a news release. “ACTRA urges Prime Minister Carney and Canada’s trade team to take a Team Canada approach – one that protects our performers, strengthens our cultural infrastructure, and ensures Canadian stories are seen here at home and around the world.” Noble stated that the film, TV, and digital media sector contributed more than $11 billion to the national gross domestic product in 2023-24. The Bloc Québécois late Monday urged Carney to address the potential film tariff in his meeting with the president Tuesday, saying in French that such a tariff could have disastrous consequences for Quebec's cultural industry and its workers in the field. Not as concerned is analyst Adam Shine of the National Bank of Canada. In a note sent May 6 he downplays the threat. “We think there's little chance of President Trump actually imposing a 100 per cent tariff on movies (and TV shows) made outside the United States. Let's start with the tweet on Sunday, seemingly serving as a trial balloon that generally stunned most stakeholders around the world involved with movies, which was quickly dialed back by the White House on Monday and noted as one among several options being explored,” he wrote. “Other considerations would include the legality of such a tariff (Berman Amendment), the difficulty of administering it (not a product physically moving across borders), and the reality that Hollywood has a trade surplus with virtually all countries.” The Wire Report made inquiries to other stakeholders but did not hear back by deadline. This story has been updated to include the National Bank analysis. ppark@thewirereport.ca

Canadian stakeholders wonder if television production in Trump’s sights

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By Paul Park
| May 5, 2025

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