Trump imposes tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones
What's next: Most duties take effect in early September as Washington and Beijing tighten drone trade restrictions.
President Donald Trump imposed new US tariffs on imported drones and their components, with rates reaching 100% for larger systems deemed sensitive on national security grounds. The White House said the top rate applies to certain unmanned aircraft systems weighing more than 25 kilograms and equipped with features such as thermal imagers or docking stations, while smaller drones face a 25% duty. The move is meant to boost domestic drone production and cut reliance on foreign supply chains in a market heavily dominated by China’s DJI. Most of the tariffs are set to take effect on Sept. 3, after China last week tightened drone export controls to the United States and blacklisted six companies.