Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on films made outside America, sparking a furious row with the UK’s film industry but Sir Keir Starmer has been told to stand up for Brit moviemakers
Sir Ed Davey has mocked Donald Trump, claiming the US President would be defeated in a battle against iconic British characters James Bond, Bridget Jones, and Paddington Bear. This comes after Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on films produced outside of America.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he has authorised government departments to impose tariffs on all foreign-made movies entering the US.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged Sir Keir Starmer to stand up to Trump on behalf of the film industry.
Sir Chris Bryant, culture minister, revealed that the UK Government is in “active discussions with the top of the US administration” regarding the situation, which is “very fluid”.
In the Commons, Sir Ed stated: “People also want a Government that will stand up for our country against Donald Trump.
“First, he targeted our steel workers and car-makers with his outrageous tariffs. Now, Donald Trump is targeting our world-leading British film industry.
“Will the Prime Minister collaborate with our allies in Europe and the Commonwealth and make it clear to President Trump that if he picks a fight with James Bond, Bridget Jones, and Paddington Bear, he will lose?”.
In response, Sir Keir said: “He really should listen to the sectors that he thinks he’s championing.
“They do not want us to abandon the work we’re doing to try and get an agreement with America. They want that agreement to reduce tariffs.
“That’s the sensible, pragmatic way to protect our national interest.
“It is not sensible or pragmatic to choose between the US and the EU to abandon the work we’re doing on trade with the US and leave the tariffs exactly where they are.
“That’s the most damaging thing that could possibly be done.”
The film industry has sounded the alarm, voicing concerns that the tariffs could hit UK freelancers hard and prove tricky to implement.
Calm at the helm, Culture minister Sir Chris addressed parliament with: “This is a very fluid situation and we will continue to take a calm and steady approach.”
Sir Chris reported he’s in active talks with US and UK film bigwigs, stating: “We are already in active discussions with the top of the US administration on this subject.
“We’re working hard to establish what might be proposed, if anything, and to make sure our world-beating creative industries are protected.”
Continuing, he insisted: “We are absolutely clear that the deep ties between the US and UK film industries provide mutual benefits to both countries. Productions are by their very nature international partnerships, which are often developed and created across different countries and locations.
“Indeed, US movies are often multinational precisely because US movies earn far more overseas than they do domestically in the United States of America.
“The UK and US both benefit when the likes of Star Wars and Mission Impossible are filmed in the UK, just as we both benefit from the close working relationship between our producers, talent and crew.”
Sir Chris dropped a pearl of wisdom: “I was once told by a film producer never judge a film by the first 10 minutes. I think we can say the same of this.”
Meanwhile, for the Conservatives, shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew vocalised concerns that US threats could spell disaster for UK film exports, hitting independent filmmakers and major studios with cancelled projects and vanished investments.
He expressed his dismay, noting: “It is disappointing that the Government failed to start the negotiations with President Trump’s team for five months after the election and fired Britain’s top trade negotiator. It is difficult not to wonder if a different approach could have led to a different outcome.
“Nonetheless the priority is to protect our film industry.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
