It looks like Donald Trump‘s plans to impose hefty tariffs on foreign-shot films won’t apply to the James Bond franchise.
- READ MORE: ‘No Time To Die’ review: Daniel Craig’s surprisingly emotional final fling
Earlier this week, Trump shared a bombshell announcement when he declared that he will be authorising 100 per cent tariffs on films made outside of the United States in attempt to “save” the “dying” film industry in the US.
He wrote on social media at the time: “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. 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 U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”
However, it would appear that the James Bond franchise won’t be subjected to Trump’s 100 per cent tariff imposition, the President revealed during a press conference on Thursday (May 8) to discuss a trade deal with the UK.
During the press conference, Trump doubled-down on his plans to impose tariffs on films shot outside of the US: “We’re going to be doing some tariffs because a lot of [filmmaking] have left this country. They all live here, the money comes from here, everything comes from here, but they make them in other countries. So, we’re gonna do something to bring them back, maybe to a large extent.”
He continued, assuring that the James Bond franchise will be safe from his tariffs plan, suggesting that it might be a favour to Sean Connery: “But James Bond has nothing to worry about, that I can tell you. And you know, Sean Connery was a friend of mine. Sean Connery was responsible for my getting zoning in Aberdeen. He said, ‘Let the bloody bloke build his golf courses’’ I was like four years into the process, and it was impossible in Aberdeen… He was a great guy, Sean Connery.”
Trump: We are putting tariffs on that particular film. The moviemakers. And we’re going to be doing some tariffs to get them.. James bond has nothing to worry about, that I can tell you. Sean Connery was a friend of mine. Great guy. pic.twitter.com/BwzVlfwIxI
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 8, 2025
Just how Trump intends on ensuring the beloved 007 franchise won’t get tariffed remains unclear. It is also unclear if Trump’s tariff plans apply solely to foreign-shot films, or if they also apply to US productions that are partially filmed overseas.
Following Trump’s declaration of 100 per cent tariffs, he seemingly softened his approach on the matter, telling press: “I’m not looking to hurt the industry, I want to help the industry. So we’re going to meet with the industry. I want to make sure they’re happy with it because we’re all about jobs.”
Additionally, Kush Desai, White House said: “No final decision on foreign film tariffs have been made. The Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.”
As for the 007 franchise, the search is on for the next Bond, after Daniel Craig made his final appearance in the role in 2021’s No Time To Die. In March, it was announced that the long-serving producers of the films, Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, had stepped away from the creative process and handed over control to Amazon MGM Studios, ending over 60 years of the Broccoli family’s control of the Bond estate.
Bond fans have not reacted kindly to the news of the franchise’s sale, with some predicting that Amazon will “ruin” the series by over-saturating the market with “mediocre spin-offs”.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has often been considered the front-runner for the role, and last year, it was reported that he had been offered the job, although the actor avoided the question when asked about it on the red carpet for action-comedy The Fall Guy.
In a four star review of No Time To Die, NME‘s Alex Flood wrote: “For the most part, and with so much at stake thanks to COVID decimating cinema, No Time To Die producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson should be applauded for taking some bold risks. The gobsmacking ending, in fact, may be the biggest in Bond history. Yet when the credits finally roll on Daniel Craig’s last hurrah, all those difficulties fade into the background. If we didn’t know better, we’d say it even looked like he enjoyed himself.”
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