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A proclamation signed Thursday sets a 25% tariff on smaller drones and a 100% tariff on larger or more capable models deemed security risks
(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Thursday imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and their components, citing national security risks from U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers.
Under the proclamation, drones exceeding 25 kilograms at maximum takeoff weight, those equipped with thermal imaging, their docking stations, and select critical components all face a 100% ad valorem tariff — a tier the White House placed in its most security-sensitive category. A 25% tariff applies to smaller drones with fewer security-sensitive capabilities and to other drone components. Goods from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan qualify for a 15% tariff rate, contingent on substantially all hardware, software, and technology originating in those countries or the United States. Imports from the United Kingdom carry a 10% tariff under the same condition.
