USSC Briefing Room | How could Trump’s film tariffs impact Australia?

25 July 2025

Senior Lecturer in the University of Sydney Business School Dr Mike Seymour joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck to discuss President Trump's film tariffs.

Podcast by

Mari Koeck

Director of Engagement and ImpactUnited States Studies Centre

When President Trump’s war on international trade barriers kicked-off, the sweeping scale and scope of his tariffs were staggering. But even after Liberation Day, there’s one proposed tariff that seems to have caught many by surprise – the 100% tariff on any US films produced in different countries.

From The Matrix to The Fall Guy, Australia has been a destination of choice for many US films, so what sort of impact could these proposed tariffs have on Australia’s film industry? How does President Trump view this as a national security issue? How should international film industry businesses respond?

Senior Lecturer in the University of Sydney Business School Dr Mike Seymour joined Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck to discuss these issues. Dr Seymour's work focuses on the digital transformation of creative industries and the future of media production.