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Trump Implements 100% Tariff on Foreign Films: A National Security Move?

by News Editor

May 5, 2025

New Tariff Shake-Up in Hollywood: Implications and Reactions

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a bold move: a 100% tariff on international films, claiming it as a shield against national security threats. This decision has sent ripples across the global movie industry, fueling intense debate on the future of filmmaking in America.

Trump emphasized on Truth Social that the American film industry is struggling due to competitive incentives offered abroad, categorizing this situation as not just economic but as a messaging and propaganda issue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick assured that actions are underway, though specific enforcement strategies remain unclear.

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Uncertainties Looming Large

As Hollywood executives scrambled for clarity, major players like Walt Disney, Netflix, and Universal Pictures considered the ramifications, with production practices facing significant upheaval. The geographical shift of film production has been a trend for years, lured by attractive tax incentives from Canada to Central Europe.

Meanwhile, global leaders in Australian and New Zealand filmmaking have voiced intent to bolster their local industries amidst this new American policy. The implications of such a policy are vast, touching even realms beyond film.

Competitive Edge and Industry Challenges

Roughly half of U.S. movie and TV investments exceeding $40 million are spent offshore, according to ProdPro. The diminishing allure of Los Angeles as a production hub is evident, with a significant decrease in local film activities largely attributed to more economically favorable locations abroad.

Faced with these changes, filmmakers and unions urge greater state-level incentives to maintain competitiveness. The broader impact of this tariff leapfrogs into the trade realm, with potential retaliations threatening American industry viability.

Historical Tariff Tensions

Considering past trade skirmishes initiated by this administration, apprehensions about potential retaliatory effects surface, echoing sentiments heard during the adjustments affecting other sectors, like those outlined in the Tesla tariff strategy.

Amidst fears of an economic slowdown, former Commerce official William Reinsch warns of detrimental retaliation, provoking fresh discussions on whether cinema truly constitutes a national security threat.

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Eurobank Wins Two Euromoney Awards Following Cyprus Merger

Eurobank has been named Cyprus’ Best Bank for 2026 by Euromoney, while also receiving the award for Best Bank for Large Corporates at the publication’s latest Awards for Excellence.

Merger Marks A Milestone

The awards recognise the bank’s performance during 2025, a year marked by the completion of the legal merger between Hellenic Bank and Eurobank Cyprus. The transaction created Eurobank Limited, which the group says is now Cyprus’ largest banking and insurance organisation, with assets exceeding €28 billion.

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Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence evaluate banks’ performance over the previous calendar year, with this edition covering January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Lending, Customers And Digital Growth

Eurobank said its business lending portfolio expanded by around 17 per cent during 2025, while its customer base grew to more than 710,000 retail clients and 11,500 business customers.

The bank also continued its digital expansion, saying more than 96 per cent of transactions are now completed through digital channels, and most financing applications are submitted via its mobile app.

Expanding International Presence

Eurobank also highlighted the opening of its first representative office in India, describing the move as a step toward strengthening business links between Cyprus and India while supporting Cyprus’ role as a gateway to the European Union for Indian businesses and investors.

According to the bank, Euromoney recognised not only the successful completion of the merger but also its lending growth, digital transformation and contribution to Cyprus’ position as an international business and investment hub.

CEO On The Awards

“The Euromoney awards confirm Eurobank’s strong momentum and the successful implementation of our group’s strategy in Cyprus,” Chief Executive Michalis Louis said.

He said the merger strengthened the bank’s ability to support households, businesses and the wider economy, while highlighting continued investment in digital services and the opening of the representative office in India as key milestones during the year.