BEIJING – Beijing has announced a ban on the screening of all films from the United States, in response to the import tariff policy imposed by President Donald Trump.

According to a statement from the White House, China will be subject to a 104% import tariff beginning Wednesday (9 April), after Beijing failed to lift its retaliatory tariffs on US goods.

The move adds to the growing list of retaliatory measures between the US and China, whose prolonged trade tensions have long been a source of friction.

Bloomberg reported that two prominent bloggers closely linked to the Chinese government—Liu Hong, a senior editor at Xinhua News Agency, and Ren Yi, grandson of a former Communist Party chief in Guangdong—have shared information on potential further countermeasures from Beijing, including a ban or reduction on US film imports.

The US film industry holds a significant stake in the Chinese market. In 2024, Hollywood films grossed approximately USD 585 million (IDR 9.9 trillion) in China, accounting for around 3.5% of the country’s total box office revenue.

One of the biggest box office hits was Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which generated USD 132 million (around IDR 2.2 trillion) in Chinese ticket sales.

Following the initial global tariff announcement by Trump, which imposed a 54% levy on imports from China, the White House has now confirmed that the rate will increase by an additional 50%, a move that is likely to escalate trade tensions between the two countries.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that it would continue to oppose the US tariffs, labelling the measures as a form of unilateralism and a hallmark of economic intimidation and protectionist bullying. (DK/KR/ZH)