05/06/2025
Dear ACTRA Toronto Members,
You may have seen recent headlines about a major announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump: his administration is proposing a 100% tariff on all films produced outside of the United States. The stated goal is to drive production back to American soil — but the international film community is raising red flags about what this could mean for the global industry, including right here in Canada.
Producers and creators from around the world — including Australia, Ireland, and beyond — have expressed deep concern. Screen Producers Australia warned the move would “send shock waves worldwide,” and Deadline reports that many U.S. independent producers fear the policy could “destroy” international co-productions and increase costs across the board.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was blunt in his response, calling the proposed tariffs “economic self-sabotage.” He emphasized how dependent California’s economy is on international collaboration, saying: “We don’t build walls around creativity. We build bridges.”
Here in Ontario, we’ve long been a preferred partner for international productions thanks to our talent, infrastructure, and world-class crews. While the tariff proposal hasn’t yet taken effect, and its full scope remains unclear, it’s a reminder of just how interconnected our work is with the broader global industry.
At ACTRA Toronto, we are watching this closely and will continue to advocate at all levels of government on behalf of Canadian performers for policies that support fair, collaborative production. We have been assured the government is tracking this closely. At this time, there’s no immediate impact to work in Canada, and the strength of our industry remains intact.
We’ll keep you informed as this develops. In the meantime, thank you, as always, for the extraordinary work you do. Your talent and resilience continue to make Ontario a powerhouse in global storytelling.
In solidarity,
Alistair Hepburn
Executive Director
ACTRA Toronto
