Trump proclamation sets 10% to 100% tariffs on drones by capability and origin

Drones above 25 kg and thermal-imaging models face 100% duty

The Trump administration on Thursday announced tariffs of up to 100% on imports of certain drones and drone components, stating in a presidential proclamation that the United States is too reliant on foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems. The action, announced through the proclamation and an accompanying fact sheet, sets varying tariff rates based on the drone’s capabilities, weight, and country of origin.

The 100% rate applies to “certain capabilities that are particularly sensitive for national security purposes, docking stations of these drones, and certain critical components of these drones,” according to the White House fact sheet. The category covers drones with a top takeoff weight of more than 25 kilograms, as well as drones equipped with thermal imaging features, the proclamation says.

A proclamation signed by President Donald Trump states that the U.S. “is too reliant on foreign sources of [unmanned aircraft systems] and UAS components,” invoking national security as the basis for the tariff.

Smaller drones that lack the features the administration considers to affect national security will face a 25% tariff, the fact sheet says.

Drones and components produced in the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan will face a 15% tariff. UK-produced drones will be assessed a 10% tariff. These lower rates will apply when “substantially all hardware, software, and technology originates from within these countries and the United States,” the fact sheet says.

The administration set two separate effective dates. Tariffs on the national-security-sensitive category take effect in 21 days. Tariffs on drone components “that are not particularly sensitive” take effect in 180 days.

The proclamation also includes a provision for products and components for which the Department of Defense has approved an exemption from the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List within 20 days of the proclamation’s signing. For those exempted items, the tariffs take effect 180 days after signing.