Donald Trump’s bizarre but very real recent threat to impose tariffs on foreign films has caused quite a stir here in Europe. The announcement could hardly be more timely, as it comes just days ahead of the Cannes Film Festival— where this issue is set to take the spotlight. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are resolutely against Trump’s rumored tariffs. They decry his overall approach to the education space.
Trump’s desire to stick it to foreign moviemakers has thrown most of the European film industry into a tizzy. Macron has publicly criticized the idea, arguing that such tariffs would not only harm international collaboration but backfire economically. He agrees that a transatlantic trade war over movies would be bad for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic. Wikimedia Commons The Cannes Film Festival organizers may be preparing to face this prickly issue head-on. They are looking forward to robust conversations between artists and arts advocates.
It is no surprise that Ursula von der Leyen—the President of the European Commission—called Trump’s campaign against universities a “huge blunder.” She advocates for the training and cultivation of intellectual exchange and collegiality of ideas and practice back and forth between the U.S. and Europe. To push back against Trump’s story, the European Commission has recently undertaken a new effort. It’s titled “Choose Europe for Science.” The program’s goal is to bring the best American researchers to Europe, showcasing the continent’s dedication to scientific excellence and collaboration.
Aside from the discussions about the film tariff, German Social Democrats are now settling in for talks about France’s nuclear deterrent capacities. Nils Schmid has expressed reservations about debating this sensitive topic at such a critical juncture, suggesting that it could distract from more pressing issues. Given the ongoing transatlantic trade tensions, the rhetoric and public debate over defense and security in Europe has never been livelier.
With the Cannes Film Festival just around the corner, the possible repercussions of Trump’s movie tariff threat hang heavy over the industry. In recent months, industry professionals are becoming increasingly concerned. They worry these moves will poison the film market and sour economic ties between the U.S. and Europe. France is convinced to the core that Trump’s tariffs will ultimately explode in his face. Simply put, they argue that these measures would end up undermining American interests over time.
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