President Donald Trump’s recent declaration to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas and imported into the United States is more than a trade dispute — it represents a direct threat to Hollywood’s global production model. For destinations like Thailand, which have successfully embedded itself into the international film and tourism ecosystem, the move signals a potential economic shock that could destabilize a thriving service sector.
Kasikorn Securities indicates that U.S. film production in Thailand generates approximately THB 2 billion per year, a vital source of income supporting multiple sectors, including production services, local labor, accommodation, transportation, and location rentals.
This proposed protectionist measure targeting the cultural industry comes at a time when Thailand’s film production revenue is booming, especially after the White Lotus season 3 and Jurassic World.
While the tariff threat injects uncertainty into the global film landscape, Thailand’s exposure is particularly acute. The United States remains the largest single source of revenue from international film productions in the country.
During the first nine months of 2025, U.S. film productions in Thailand generated THB 1.67 billion in domestic spending, contributing significantly to the THB 4.2 billion total from all foreign film projects over the same period.
If the 100% tariff is implemented — a move whose legality and enforcement remain uncertain — Hollywood studios would face prohibitively high costs to release films shot abroad in the U.S. market. The logical response would be a sharp pullback from overseas filming, fundamentally disrupting decades of international production practices.
For Thailand, which has hosted an average of 40 U.S. film productions per year over the past five years, such a retreat could result in an immediate and severe loss of revenue.
Thailand’s foreign film industry has become a pillar of its broader tourism and service economy — and the momentum has been strong. In the first nine months of 2025, the country welcomed 395 international film projects. Although the United States ranked fifth by the number of films (33 projects, behind India, China, South Korea, and Japan), its financial contribution dwarfs that of other countries.
The THB 2 billion annual revenue from U.S. productions directly supports not only the film sector but also the broader tourism supply chain — from hotels and transport operators to local SMEs providing on-set logistics and catering.
The proposed 100% tariff highlights the fragility of globally integrated creative industries, where trade and culture intersect. For economies like Thailand’s — which depend heavily on foreign film production as both a revenue generator and a tourism catalyst — the consequences could be severe.
Until there is clarity on the legal foundation and enforcement of this tariff proposal, both Hollywood studios and host nations remain in a state of heightened uncertainty. For Thailand, the prospect of losing its top-spending film partner is more than a cultural setback — it’s a material financial risk to one of its most dynamic service industries.
