Trump imposes 100% tariffs on imported drones, citing national security

Proclamation and legal basis

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on 13 August imposing tariffs on imported drones and their components, the White House announced. The document, titled Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components into the United States, rests on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ran the Section 232 investigation and reported the finding that drones and their components "are being imported into the United States in such quantities as to threaten to impair the national security." The White House fact sheet said the program will "protect the national security of the United States and its defense and defense-adjacent industrial base, supporting and creating American jobs."

Tiered tariff structure

The proclamation creates two main tiers taking effect on 3 September 2026. A 100% ad valorem tariff applies to drones with a maximum take-off weight above 25kg, drones equipped with thermal imaging, docking stations, and a list of critical components. A 25% tariff covers drones of 25kg or less and other components named in the annexes. The weight threshold separates military-grade machines from those used by film crews and surveyors.

A third tranche follows later: an additional set of components attracts 25% from 9 February 2027, a 180-day delay. The proclamation also leaves the door open for expansion, stating the Secretary of Commerce may "subject additional UAS components to the tariffs on a rolling basis."

Lower caps for allied countries

The proclamation sets conditional caps for allied economies. EU member states, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland and Liechtenstein face a maximum of 15%, and the United Kingdom a maximum of 10%. The cap applies only where "substantially all the critical components and technology are certified to be products of" approved countries. That certification is the crux: a European drone assembled in Europe from Chinese motors and batteries does not automatically qualify. The wording reaches technology and software, not only parts a customs officer can weigh.

China and DJI in the crosshairs

The measures target an industry where Chinese companies hold a dominant position. DJI, founded in 2006 and based in Shenzhen, has controlled over two-thirds of the global drone market in recent years, according to multiple studies cited by news.ro. DJI's recent Lito 1 and Lito X1 drones will not receive FCC clearance, and the FCC is currently seeking public comment on whether to ban previously cleared DJI drones from the US market. DJI is still allowed to sell older drones and camera products that previously received FCC licenses. The fact sheet states that drones for commercial and US military purposes "rely on foreign sources for critical Unmanned Aircraft System components, which poses significant risks to U.S. national security and creates cybersecurity vulnerabilities."

Market impact and domestic alternatives

The tariffs will likely increase costs for an already constrained supply of specialized drones in the US. Many imported drones, particularly those from China, are used for search and rescue and power line inspection. The US does not have dedicated industries to quickly begin manufacturing these drones, creating demand pressure on a limited domestic supply. The tariffs also close a loophole allowing Chinese parts to be assembled into drones in the US. One domestic alternative is Antigravity, a company spun out of action camera maker Insta360, which launched its A1 360 camera drone late last year.

Separate court ruling on de minimis

On the same day, the US Court of International Trade in New York ruled in favor of Trump's 2025 decision to rescind the "de minimis" exemption for tariffs on imports valued below $800 from China, Mexico and Canada. Trump praised the ruling as a "big win" on Truth Social, calling the exemption "a giant loophole for tariff cheats." The three-judge panel found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act allowed the president to rescind a trade-related privilege, even if it did not authorize entirely new tariffs. The ruling came in a case brought by Michigan-based auto parts importer Detroit Axle, which had adapted its business around the exemption.