U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and their components, citing national security and supply chain risks.
According to the White House, drones classified as highly sensitive, such as those exceeding 25 kilograms in weight or equipped with thermal imaging technology, will face a 100% tariff, while drones with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms will be subject to a 25% tariff.
Most of the new tariffs will take effect 21 days after the proclamation, though duties on drone components not deemed highly sensitive will be delayed for 180 days. The same 180-day delay will apply to products and parts granted exemptions from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Covered List by the Department of War within 20 days of signing.
In its statement, the White House said the measures are intended to “boost domestic production” of drones and parts while cutting reliance on foreign supply chains.
In addition, Washington has levied a 15% tariff on drones and components imported from the EU, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan. Imports from the United Kingdom will be subject to a 10% tariff, provided that nearly all of their hardware, software, and technology originate in the UK or the United States.
The move to impose tariffs on drones comes amid the Trump administration’s broader push to restrict Chinese drone technology, according to the Financial Times. In December last year, the FCC barred imports of Chinese drones, announcing it would no longer grant wireless communications approvals for drones from adversary nations.
The latest measures could deal a heavy blow to China’s drone industry and add further pressure ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. China remains the world’s leading producer of unmanned aerial vehicles, with Shenzhen-based DJI Technologies holding roughly 70% of the U.S. commercial drone market as of last year.
The move also follows China’s decision a week earlier to restrict drone exports to the United States and blacklist six U.S. companies, in retaliation for Washington’s sanctions linked to forced labor and national security concerns.
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