‘Makes no sense’: Hollywood shocked by Trump’s film tariffs announcement

Hollywood reacted with skepticism on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 100 percent tariffs on foreign films, with movie insiders calling it a policy made up on the fly by a president who fails to understand how the industry works.”It makes no sense,” entertainment lawyer Jonathan Handel said of Trump’s idea.Handel told AFP that many US productions, from James Bond flicks to the “Mission Impossible” franchise, are filmed abroad for obvious creative reasons.”If the stunt is Tom Cruise climbing up the Eiffel Tower, what are we supposed to do, shoot at the replica Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas?” Handel said. “I mean, it’s just nonsensical.”Writing on his platform Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said: “I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.””WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he wrote.His words plunged the movie industry into uncertainty as entertainment companies saw their stock prices fall, unions struggled to understand if the bombshell also applies to TV series and everyone wondered if the policy could even be enforced.Handel said movies involve intellectual property.”You can buy a movie ticket, but you don’t buy a movie the way you buy a piece of clothing or an automobile,” which can be taxed as they cross a border into the United States, he said.Even if a system could be devised to impose tariffs on movies filmed outside the United States, such levies would do more harm than good to the US industry, Handel said.”The result of that would be to reduce production, to increase the cost of movies, to reduce the number of movies available for movie theaters and streamers to show, which would damage the distribution side of the business,” he said.California Governor Gavin Newsom called on Monday for a partnership with the Trump administration to “Make America Film Again”.”We’ve proven what strong state incentives can do. Now it’s time for a real federal partnership to Make America Film Again,” he wrote on social media platform X.- ‘Confusion’ -Unions for actors and other media and entertainment workers said they awaited more details of Trump’s plan but supported the goal of increasing production of movies, TV and streaming in the United States. “We will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our competitive position, accelerate economic growth and create good middle-class jobs for American workers,” said one such guild, SAG-AFTRA.Many movie studios and other industry organizations had yet to officially react by Monday but Trump’s announcement triggered crisis meetings, Hollywood news outlets reported, publishing skeptical comments from insiders speaking on condition of anonymity.”I can’t see his target here other than confusion and distraction,” the showbiz news outlet Deadline quoted a top distribution executive as saying.”Let’s hope this only encourages desperately needed increases in US state tax incentives being implemented ASAP,” the person said.Such incentives offered by other countries — such as Britain, Canada and Ireland, among others — are a lure for US movie studios to film outside the country.Australia, which for years used generous tax breaks and other cash incentives to lure foreign filmmakers, said it still wants to make “great films” with the United States.With Trump’s tariffs threatening the home of Hollywood hits including “The Matrix”, “Elvis” and “Crocodile Dundee”, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday that “collaboration is a good thing.”While Trump’s idea is divisive, there is widespread agreement that the US movie industry is in dire straits.Hollywood has struggled to get back on its feet since the historic strikes by actors and writers that shut it down in 2023.The number of filming days in Los Angeles hit a record low in 2024, excluding the total shutdown in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic.This is in part because many movies are now filmed in a growing number of countries that offer incentives such as tax rebates.Deadline quoted a Hollywood movie financier as saying he agreed with Trump’s goal of having more movies filmed in the United States.”But obviously the need is for rebates, not tariffs. Tariffs will just choke the remaining life out of the business,” they were quoted as saying.As Hollywood fretted over Trump’s announcement, the White House said no decision on foreign film tariffs has been made. “The Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” the White House said in a statement.Trump told reporters Monday: “I’m not looking to hurt the industry. I want to help the industry. But they’re given financing by other countries.”That seemingly conciliatory remark stopped short of walking back the film tariff announcement, as Trump criticized Newsom, who is pushing for his state to double the tax credits it grants to the movie industry.”Our film industry has been decimated by other countries taking them out, and also by incompetence,” Trump said of Newsom.”He’s just allowed it to be taken away from, you know, Hollywood.”

‘Makes no sense’: Hollywood shocked by Trump’s film tariffs announcement

Hollywood reacted with skepticism on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 100 percent tariffs on foreign films, with movie insiders calling it a policy made up on the fly by a president who fails to understand how the industry works.”It makes no sense,” entertainment lawyer Jonathan Handel said of Trump’s idea.Handel told AFP that many US productions, from James Bond flicks to the “Mission Impossible” franchise, are filmed abroad for obvious creative reasons.”If the stunt is Tom Cruise climbing up the Eiffel Tower, what are we supposed to do, shoot at the replica Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas?” Handel said. “I mean, it’s just nonsensical.”Writing on his platform Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said: “I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.””WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he wrote.His words plunged the movie industry into uncertainty as entertainment companies saw their stock prices fall, unions struggled to understand if the bombshell also applies to TV series and everyone wondered if the policy could even be enforced.Handel said movies involve intellectual property.”You can buy a movie ticket, but you don’t buy a movie the way you buy a piece of clothing or an automobile,” which can be taxed as they cross a border into the United States, he said.Even if a system could be devised to impose tariffs on movies filmed outside the United States, such levies would do more harm than good to the US industry, Handel said.”The result of that would be to reduce production, to increase the cost of movies, to reduce the number of movies available for movie theaters and streamers to show, which would damage the distribution side of the business,” he said.California Governor Gavin Newsom called on Monday for a partnership with the Trump administration to “Make America Film Again”.”We’ve proven what strong state incentives can do. Now it’s time for a real federal partnership to Make America Film Again,” he wrote on social media platform X.- ‘Confusion’ -Unions for actors and other media and entertainment workers said they awaited more details of Trump’s plan but supported the goal of increasing production of movies, TV and streaming in the United States. “We will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our competitive position, accelerate economic growth and create good middle-class jobs for American workers,” said one such guild, SAG-AFTRA.Many movie studios and other industry organizations had yet to officially react by Monday but Trump’s announcement triggered crisis meetings, Hollywood news outlets reported, publishing skeptical comments from insiders speaking on condition of anonymity.”I can’t see his target here other than confusion and distraction,” the showbiz news outlet Deadline quoted a top distribution executive as saying.”Let’s hope this only encourages desperately needed increases in US state tax incentives being implemented ASAP,” the person said.Such incentives offered by other countries — such as Britain, Canada and Ireland, among others — are a lure for US movie studios to film outside the country.Australia, which for years used generous tax breaks and other cash incentives to lure foreign filmmakers, said it still wants to make “great films” with the United States.With Trump’s tariffs threatening the home of Hollywood hits including “The Matrix”, “Elvis” and “Crocodile Dundee”, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday that “collaboration is a good thing.”While Trump’s idea is divisive, there is widespread agreement that the US movie industry is in dire straits.Hollywood has struggled to get back on its feet since the historic strikes by actors and writers that shut it down in 2023.The number of filming days in Los Angeles hit a record low in 2024, excluding the total shutdown in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic.This is in part because many movies are now filmed in a growing number of countries that offer incentives such as tax rebates.Deadline quoted a Hollywood movie financier as saying he agreed with Trump’s goal of having more movies filmed in the United States.”But obviously the need is for rebates, not tariffs. Tariffs will just choke the remaining life out of the business,” they were quoted as saying.As Hollywood fretted over Trump’s announcement, the White House said no decision on foreign film tariffs has been made. “The Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” the White House said in a statement.Trump told reporters Monday: “I’m not looking to hurt the industry. I want to help the industry. But they’re given financing by other countries.”That seemingly conciliatory remark stopped short of walking back the film tariff announcement, as Trump criticized Newsom, who is pushing for his state to double the tax credits it grants to the movie industry.”Our film industry has been decimated by other countries taking them out, and also by incompetence,” Trump said of Newsom.”He’s just allowed it to be taken away from, you know, Hollywood.”

Livraisons de repas: l’américain DoorDash va racheter Deliveroo 2,9 milliards de livres

La plateforme américaine de livraison DoorDash s’est entendu avec son équivalent britannique Deliveroo pour acquérir ce dernier pour 2,9 milliards de livres (3,4 milliards d’euros), ont annoncé les deux entreprises mardi dans un communiqué conjoint.Ce rapprochement entre les deux entités, aux “activités géographiques complémentaires”, doit permettre de “renforcer la position” de DoorDash “en tant que plateforme mondiale”, est-il souligné dans le communiqué.Fondé en 2013, Doordash opère dans plus de 30 pays et est numéro un aux Etats-Unis. L’entreprise de San Francisco annoncé en 2024 un chiffre d’affaires de 10,7 milliards de dollars (8 milliards de livres).Egalement fondé en 2013, Deliveroo est présent dans neuf pays: Belgique, France, Italie, Irlande, Koweït, Qatar, Singapour, Émirats arabes unis et Royaume-Uni.Le groupe a présenté en mars, pour la première fois, un bénéfice annuel après impôt de 2,9 millions de livres, sur un chiffre d’affaires de 2,1 milliards. Il affichait jusqu’alors des pertes importantes en raison de coûts d’investissement élevés.La réunion “des deux entreprises permettra au groupe élargi d’opérer dans des pays dont la population combinée dépasse le milliard d’habitants”, soulignent-elles.La plateforme britannique avait annoncé fin avril le début de discussions avec Doordash sur une offre indicative à hauteur de 1,80 livre par action, qu’elle a décidé de recommander à ses actionnaires.

Elu agressé en Gironde: quatre personnes, dont deux mineurs, en garde à vue 

Quatre personnes, dont deux mineurs, ont été placées en garde à vue mardi matin dans le cadre de l’enquête sur les violences subies par un élu qui tentait de mettre fin à un rodéo urbain samedi en Gironde, a indiqué le parquet de Libourne. Les deux mineurs sont âgés de 15 et 17 ans et les deux majeurs de 18 et 21 ans, a simplement précisé le procureur de la République Loïs Raschel, dans un court communiqué.Samedi en fin d’après-midi, ce conseiller municipal s’était adressé à “plusieurs individus effectuant un rodéo urbain”, leur demandant de “cesser cette activité”, avait écrit dimanche soir le magistrat dans un précédent communiqué.L’élu était venu à la rencontre d’une “quinzaine de motards”, sur le terrain de ball-trap de la commune, après avoir failli se faire renverser par une moto, un peu avant 18H00 dans une rue du village, selon ses propos dans le quotidien régional Sud Ouest.Le ton était alors monté et l’élu avait ensuite été “violemment frappé par l’un d’entre eux avec un objet métallique”, selon son témoignage, rapporté par le parquet, qui précise qu’il a ensuite été “roué de nombreux coups”, une fois au sol, avant de perdre connaissance.La victime, qui a ensuite été admise aux urgences, souffre de fractures à l’arcade, au nez et à la pommette droite.En mars 2024, le Parlement a adopté une loi visant à mieux protéger les représentants locaux contre les violences. L’une des mesures-phares du texte est l’alignement des sanctions sur celles prévues pour des violences à l’encontre de dépositaires de l’autorité publique, comme les policiers.

Elu agressé en Gironde: quatre personnes, dont deux mineurs, en garde à vue 

Quatre personnes, dont deux mineurs, ont été placées en garde à vue mardi matin dans le cadre de l’enquête sur les violences subies par un élu qui tentait de mettre fin à un rodéo urbain samedi en Gironde, a indiqué le parquet de Libourne. Les deux mineurs sont âgés de 15 et 17 ans et les deux majeurs de 18 et 21 ans, a simplement précisé le procureur de la République Loïs Raschel, dans un court communiqué.Samedi en fin d’après-midi, ce conseiller municipal s’était adressé à “plusieurs individus effectuant un rodéo urbain”, leur demandant de “cesser cette activité”, avait écrit dimanche soir le magistrat dans un précédent communiqué.L’élu était venu à la rencontre d’une “quinzaine de motards”, sur le terrain de ball-trap de la commune, après avoir failli se faire renverser par une moto, un peu avant 18H00 dans une rue du village, selon ses propos dans le quotidien régional Sud Ouest.Le ton était alors monté et l’élu avait ensuite été “violemment frappé par l’un d’entre eux avec un objet métallique”, selon son témoignage, rapporté par le parquet, qui précise qu’il a ensuite été “roué de nombreux coups”, une fois au sol, avant de perdre connaissance.La victime, qui a ensuite été admise aux urgences, souffre de fractures à l’arcade, au nez et à la pommette droite.En mars 2024, le Parlement a adopté une loi visant à mieux protéger les représentants locaux contre les violences. L’une des mesures-phares du texte est l’alignement des sanctions sur celles prévues pour des violences à l’encontre de dépositaires de l’autorité publique, comme les policiers.

Les Bourses européennes ouvrent en petite hausse

Les Bourses européennes ont ouvert mardi en timide hausse, les investisseurs naviguant avec prudence face aux incertitudes liées aux droits de douane, entre promesses d’accords imminents et annonces de surtaxes dans certains secteurs.Dans les premiers échanges, la Bourse de Paris gagnait 0,11%, Francfort 0,01%, Londres 0,33% et Milan 0,20%.

Fusillade à Rennes sur fond de trafic de drogue: les gardes à vue des 3 suspects prolongées

Les gardes à vue des trois hommes suspectés d’avoir tiré à l’arme automatique à Rennes samedi faisant trois blessés a été prolongée lundi soir, a indiqué mardi le parquet de la capitale bretonne.”Le Juge des libertés et de la détention (JLD) a bien prolongé les gardes à vue hier soir. Le défèrement au palais de justice devrait avoir lieu demain (mercredi) après-midi”, a indiqué à l’AFP Frédéric Teillet, procureur de la République de Rennes. Samedi en début de soirée, dans le quartier populaire et animé de Villejean, “un groupe d’hommes arrivés dans un véhicule en descendent munis d’au moins une arme automatique, et font feu sur un groupe d’individus présent sur place”, selon un communiqué du magistrat transmis dimanche.Une dizaine de coups de feu ont été tirés, blessant deux personnes aux jambes. Un troisième individu est frappé par plusieurs assaillants, d’après la même source. Les trois victimes, des mineurs âgés de 16 à 17 ans, ont été hospitalisées. Les deux blessés par balles ont subi une intervention chirurgicale, sans que leur pronostic vital ne soit engagé, tandis que le troisième a pu rapidement sortir de l’hôpital.Les trois suspects de l’agression, âgés de 19 à 21 ans, ont été arrêtés samedi à Saint-Grégoire, commune jouxtant Rennes, puis placés en garde à vue. Preuve de l’intensité des tirs à Villejean, “sur les lieux des faits, ont été constatés des impacts sur trois véhicules et un autre dans un appartement inoccupé. L’arme probablement utilisée, de type kalachnikov, a été retrouvée sur l’itinéraire de fuite”, avait précisé le procureur.Le parquet JIRS de Rennes, spécialisé dans la criminalité organisée, s’est saisi de l’enquête.

Sri Lanka government faces first vote test in local polls

Sri Lanka’s leftist government faced its first electoral test with local polls on Tuesday since sweeping parliamentary and presidential votes last year, as the country emerged from economic meltdown.President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged voters to return all 339 local council bodies to his ruling National People’s Party (NPP) coalition, which enjoys a sweeping two-thirds majority in parliament.Dissanayake, who upset the more established political parties to win the September presidential election, built on his popularity to secure the parliamentary vote held two months later.Since coming to power, Dissanayake, 56, has made a U-turn on his pledge to renegotiate the terms of an unpopular IMF bailout loan agreed by his predecessor, and has maintained high tariffs.”We must understand the nature of the reality before us — an economy that has collapsed to the bottom,” Dissanayake said at his May Day rally in Colombo.He said it was essential for his party to sweep the local councils so that all layers of the administration were “free of corruption and endemic waste”.He also urged trade unions not to agitate over “small issues”, and to give his government more time to deliver on its promises of increased welfare.Some 17.1 million people — the same number that voted in the two previous national elections — are eligible to vote on Tuesday to elect 8,287 councillors from 75,589 candidates.The campaign has been lacklustre, with no high-profile figures in the running. Results are expected by midday on Wednesday.