British Columbia Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim have vowed to support the local film industry in the face of Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on foreign-made movies.
Both the provincial and municipal governments urged the president to walk back his plan, and work with Canadian filmmakers, not against.
"To the folks in the film industry, don't panic," Eby said during a press conference on Monday. "The president tweets a lot of stuff. The implementation challenges of this are profound, and hard to understand exactly how this would work."
He made it clear that the government would "stand strong" for those impacted, should it escalate to that point. Over 26,000 people are employed in the industry in BC.
Eby pointed out that the film industry "touches every corner of our province" and "drives tourism."
In a statement of his own, Sim called Trump's proposed tariffs "unwarranted and unjustified," noting that for decades, Vancouver's film industry has "collaborated across the border to create iconic productions that have shaped global entertainment."
"It has been our talented crews and film professionals that have brought industry-leading expertise, experience, and world-class value to countless American productions," he added.
Sim warned that, if implemented, the tariff would "hurt Canadian cities like Vancouver" and "threaten the strength and resilience of an entire industry, especially in the United States."
"Despite President Trump's statement," he concluded, "Vancouver's film industry isn't going anywhere. We will continue to support world-class productions, champion innovation in visual effects, and provide an exceptional home for creative professionals from around the globe."
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social Sunday evening.
"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote. "Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, are being devastated."
Trump suggested it was a "concerted effort by other Nations" and deemed it a "National Security threat."
"Therefore," he concluded, "I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."