Industry China to Reduce Imports of Hollywood Films in Response to U.S. Tariffs

The China Film Administration has announced a moderate reduction in the number of Hollywood films imported into the country.

According to the agency, this decision comes in response to newly increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, which were raised to 125% as of April 9, following an announcement by President Donald Trump. In return, the Chinese government has imposed additional tariffs on U.S. goods — up to 84% starting April 10.

“The Chinese film market is the second-largest in the world. The overuse of tariffs is inevitably affecting the local audience's reception of American films,”
— the agency stated.

Despite the current tensions, China emphasized its continued commitment to global cinematic diversity:

“We maintain a high level of openness to the outside world and will continue to bring in top-tier films from a wider range of countries to meet market demand.”
— from the agency's official statement

Declining Box Office for Hollywood in China​

In recent years, box office performance of Hollywood productions in China has declined. This trend was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, after which both audiences and authorities began prioritizing domestic films. Additionally, major U.S. studios have scaled back promotional efforts in China due to uncertainty over release approvals.

Still, some American films continue to perform well:

• Minecraft: The Movie earned $14.5 million in its opening weekend in China — about 10% of its total international box office.
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently 2024's highest-grossing Hollywood title in China, with $132 million out of a global total of $571 million.

At this time, it's unclear how drastically the import volume will be reduced. Under previous agreements, 34 foreign films were allowed theatrical release in China each year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.