▲ U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on the 13th (local time) imposing tariffs of up to 100% on drones and drone components.
In the proclamation, President Trump stated that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick submitted a Section 232 trade expansion investigation report on the impact of imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), their parts, and components on national security, and concluded that UAS are essential to U.S. national and economic security.
He explained the background of the tariff decision, saying, "I agree with the Secretary's determination that UAS and components are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States."
President Trump ordered a 100% tariff on drones, docking stations, and certain critical components with specific sizes or functions that are sensitive from a national security perspective.
The 100% tariff subjects include drones with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25 kilograms and drones equipped with thermal imaging capabilities.
However, President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on drones smaller than those subject to the 100% tariff and lacking specific functions that have a significant impact on national security, as well as other drone components.
The 100% tariffs are scheduled to take effect 21 days later at 12:01 AM on September 3, Eastern Time, while the 25% tariffs are set to take effect 180 days later on February 9, 2027, at 12:01 AM.
Meanwhile, a 15% tariff will be imposed on drones and parts imported from South Korea, the European Union (EU), Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Taiwan, while a 10% tariff will apply to products imported from the United Kingdom.
In an explanatory document regarding the proclamation, the White House stated that drones are a core technology of modern warfare and vital to current and future U.S. military operations, adding, "President Trump's drone tariff program will protect U.S. national security, national defense, and the defense-related industrial base, thereby supporting and creating jobs within the United States."
The Trump administration has been investigating the impact of imported drones on national security based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act since last year.
President Trump's latest drone tariff measures also appear to target China.
Previously, in a statement submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce in August of last year, the South Korean government pointed out that "a small number of companies based in a single country" dominate the UAS market.
Although it did not specify a country name, this was interpreted as an expression of concern regarding China, which holds a dominant position in the UAS market.
The government further suggested cooperating with allies such as South Korea to strengthen the UAS supply chain, while urging the United States to conduct this investigation in a "rational and predictable manner consistent with U.S. national security objectives."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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