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US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on movies have drawn criticism from Australia’s ambassador to Washington. In a talk with business leaders, the ambassador expressed his disapproval of what he called a “tax on Bluey,” referring to the beloved Australian children’s show.
“I don’t think we want to see a tax on Bluey,” the former prime minister said.
“What happens if we all lock down our countries with competitive, punitive arrangements against each other’s movies?
“Movies are the way in which we kind of understand each other more. So I’d be all for opening this up.”
Trump recently declared that these tariffs, set at 100 per cent, are intended to safeguard the US film and TV industry from foreign competition. This move includes all films made outside the United States.
It’s not at all clear how such a tariff would be imposed.
Films are intellectual property, not goods, so they represent a kind of service that is not currently subject to tariffs.
Additionally, the ambassador mocked the 10 per cent tariffs imposed last month on the Heard and McDonald Islands, Australian territories near Antarctica, questioning their relevance and impact.
“If you’ve seen the other great Australian movie, Happy Feet â you know, the penguins â those penguins of ours have just been tariffed down in Heard and Macquarie [sic] Island in Antarctica,” he said.
“They’re producing a sequel, it’s called Unhappy Feet. There’ll be a march of penguins on Washington.”
The Milken Institute conference was attended by high-powered business figures, including billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk.
