Trump slaps tariffs on NZ for 'stealing' hollywood jobs—NZ counters with Kim Dotcom extradition, which DOJ will likely ghost
New Zealand government seems adamant to extradite Kim Dotcom, while Trump is adamant to slap 100% tariff on New Zealand for ‘stealing’ Hollywood jobs.
Foreign countries are a bigger threat to Hollywood than Kim Dotcom, and Trump knows that
New Zealand is a major producer of blockbuster movies, attracting film production from the United States, by offering hefty exemptions.
It is in the New Zealand government’s interest to continue the extradition of Kim Dotcom, partly to proof loyalty in the Indo-Pacific pivot against China, and perhaps a bargaining chip to soften the blows from tariffs.
An extradition also gives New Zealand Government an opportunity to distract the public from tariffs, as there are plenty that hate Kim Dotcom, and will jump on the opportunity to celebrate his extradition. Hence why, the timely decision from NZ High Court to reject Kim Dotcom’s appeal.
But Trump, is showing no interest in Kim Dotcom. He wants to go after foreign governments including New Zealand, to protect Hollywood and American jobs.
Will Attorney General Pam Bondi drop the charges given Kim Dotcom’s persecution parallels with DOJ going after Trump?
Kim Dotcom’s charges are a residue of Obama/Biden administration, and they don’t align with Trump’s directive.
Also, Kim Dotcom’s extradition over an estimated $500 million in piracy losses from a now-defunct site, seems an outdated pursuit for DOJ, when Hollywood is staring down existential threats from AI disruption and state-backed foreign film production schemes with trillions in losses.
Pam Bondi is also under a lot of pressure to clean up the weaponisation of DOJ.
AI: The Wrecking Ball
Generative tools are automating scriptwriting, visual effects, dubbing, and even generating full scenes. There are also AI studios creating AI movie stars with huge following and film deals.
U.S. box office and ancillary revenues have cratered, with 90% drop in certain production segments from $10.1 billion in 2014 to just $900 million in 2024.
Studios like Disney and Universal are suing AI firms (including Midjourney) for scraping copyright works to train their models, leading to further damage to Hollywood by helping develop AI tools to produce films.
Governments Abroad: stealing Hollywood jobs
In May this year, the New Zealand Government injected $577 million into its International Screen Production Rebate scheme, offering up to 20% (and sometimes 40%) cash rebates on qualifying spends.
This is a direct hit to American workers — runaway productions lured by these incentives have siphoned thousands of jobs, billions in wages, and ancillary revenue from the United States.
As Trump looks down the barrel of another report on higher numbers of unemployment, the tariffs will bring back Hollywood jobs.
The Bottom line is
that Hollywood faces an existential crisis and Trump knows that.
Trump doesn’t want Kim Dotcom.
He wants the New Zealand Government to stop stealing American jobs.
