Potential Prohibition of U.S. Films in China Amidst Trade Tensions
According to reports from two influential Chinese bloggers, there might soon be a prohibition on American movies in China as a consequence of new American tariffs.
Bloomberg recently disclosed insights from Liu Hong, a senior editor at Xinhuanet, and Ren Yi, a descendant of the former Guangdong party leader Ren Zhongyi. Both shared insights on China’s possible retaliatory actions in response to the U.S. government under Donald Trump imposing a 54% tariff on Chinese goods.
The countermeasures suggested include possibly reducing or completely halting the importation of American films into China, scrutinizing the intellectual property arrangements of U.S. corporations in China, and placing restrictions on American services within the country.
These potential retaliatory strategies were shared by Liu and Ren simultaneously on various local social media platforms.
China is poised to become a central arena in the trade conflict initiated by Trump, with Chinese officials pledging to “fight to the finish” in response to the tariffs and by implementing their own counter-tariffs of 34%. In turn, Trump has threatened to escalate the existing tariffs to 104% if China does not relent.
Following the announcement of these tariffs, which impact almost every nation globally, Asian stock markets experienced some of their most significant declines in recent history.
Although revenue from American films in China has greatly diminished since the peak years between 2012 and 2019, before the pandemic, the loss of China — now the world’s second-largest film market — would represent a substantial economic setback for U.S. film studios.
Just last weekend, “A Minecraft Movie” by Warner Bros and Legendary premiered in China, securing the top spot at the box office with earnings of $14.5 million. This figure represents slightly more than 10% of the movie’s total international box office revenue of $144 million.
In 2024, the most significant U.S. film release in China was “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” also by Warner Bros and Legendary, which garnered $132 million at the Chinese box office.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
