BFI Pleaded With Government To Exclude UK Screen Industries From Trump Trade Deal, Saying It Would Cause “Fundamental Harm”

Why It Matters

Excluding audiovisual services protects the UK’s most valuable export market and preserves regulatory control over AI and IP, safeguarding revenue and creative autonomy.

Key Takeaways

• BFI urges UK to keep film/TV out of US trade pact
• Inclusion could jeopardize EU quota eligibility for British content
• EU market accounts for 51% of UK film export revenue
• Trade deal may force UK to loosen AI copyright regulations
• Retaining tax break discretion safeguards future subsidies for creators

Pulse Analysis

The British Film Institute (BFI) has formally petitioned the UK Foreign Office to ensure that the country's film and television sectors are omitted from any trade agreement negotiated with President Donald Trump's administration. The request follows a May 2025 policy paper warning that inclusion of audiovisual services in the IP chapter could trigger “fundamental harm” to the industry. Trump's earlier threats of a 100 % tariff on imported films underscored the stakes, prompting the BFI to argue that a US‑UK pact would jeopardize existing tax incentives and subsidy frameworks that support high‑end TV production.

The BFI warns that a US‑UK deal could strip the UK of its “European work” status under the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, a designation that currently grants British titles quota protection across European broadcasters and streaming platforms. With the EU accounting for roughly 51 % of the UK's film export revenue—compared with just 20 % to the United States—any loss of eligibility would erode the sector's most lucrative market. Moreover, the institute fears that forced alignment with US trade rules could curtail future tax breaks and subsidies designed to attract American investment into British productions.

Beyond market access, the BFI cautions that a US‑led agreement could compel the UK to adopt a more permissive AI‑driven copyright regime favored by American tech firms. Such a shift would undermine the protective framework the institute credits with sustaining creator livelihoods and could expose UK content to unchecked algorithmic reuse. By retaining regulatory sovereignty over intellectual property and AI, Britain can preserve its “gold‑standard” IP model while negotiating trade terms that safeguard both domestic subsidies and international quota benefits. The BFI’s lobbying underscores a broader industry push for trade deals that respect cultural and digital sovereignty.