Trump Imposes Up to 100% Tariffs on Drones and Parts Targeting China... 15% for South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on the 13th local time imposing tariffs of up to 100% on drones and drone parts.

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 and their parts and components on national security, and determined 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 under such quantities and 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 core components with specific sizes or functions that are sensitive from a national security perspective.

The 100% tariff targets include drones with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25 kg 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 significantly impact national security, as well as other drone parts.

The implementation date for the 100% tariffs is set for 21 days later at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on September 3, and the 25% tariffs are set to take effect 180 days later on February 9, 2027.

Meanwhile, a 15% tariff will be applied to drones and parts imported from South Korea, the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Taiwan, while a 10% tariff will be levied on products imported from the United Kingdom.

In an explanatory statement regarding the proclamation, the White House stated that drones are a core technology of modern warfare and crucial to current and future U.S. military operations, adding, "President Trump's drone tariff program will support and create jobs in the United States by protecting U.S. national security, defense, and the defense-related industrial base."

The Trump administration has been investigating the impact of drone imports on national security based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act since last year.

President Trump's latest drone tariff measures are also seen as targeting China.

Previously, the South Korean government pointed out in a comment submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce in August of last year that "a small number of companies located in a single country" dominate the UAS market.

Although it did not specify a country name, this was interpreted as expressing concern over China, which holds a dominant position in the UAS market.

At the same time, the government proposed cooperating with allies like 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)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.