US slaps up to 100% tariffs on foreign drones, targeting China

Published Aug 14, 11:53 AM UTC

The Trump administration has announced new tariffs on foreign-made drones and components, citing national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The policy imposes a 100% tariff on sensitive drones weighing over 25 kilograms or equipped with thermal imaging, and a 25% tariff on smaller non-sensitive drones. To ease transition, allies receive lower rates: EU, Japan, Switzerland, and Taiwan face 15%, while the UK gets 10%. The move primarily targets China, aiming to reduce US reliance on Chinese drone technology and prevent supply-chain laundering. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the US is 'too reliant' on foreign producers. US drone manufacturers like AeroVironment, Aevex Corp., and Unusual Machines saw stock surges. This follows a December 2025 FCC ban on Chinese drone components from DJI and Autel Robotics.