President Donald Trump said Thursday he will impose tariffs on imports of drones and their components, including from some key U.S. allies, and the Trump administration said the country was “too dependent” on foreign drone sources. A proclamation signed by Trump imposes a 100% ad valorem tariff on drones of a certain size or with certain capabilities that are particularly sensitive for national security purposes, the White House said, adding that a 25% tariff will be imposed on smaller drones. A 15% tariff will be imposed on drones and components from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan, and a 10% ad valorem tariff on drones from the United Kingdom, the White House added. Trump has made tariffs a central pillar of his foreign and trade policies despite legal setbacks and criticism from some analysts. Read more25 US states sue the Trump administration over radical new tariffs Trump said in the proclamation text published by the White House that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had investigated the effects of imports of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. “The Secretary found that import penetration by foreign UAS producers is substantial and that the United States is overly dependent on foreign sources of UAS and UAS components,” Trump said. Lutnick found that drones and drone components from certain foreign entities “present security risks” and that the U.S. domestic industry is not producing enough to meet security needs, Trump said. The tariffs will take effect in 21 days, the White House said. For drone components that are not particularly sensitive, the tariffs will take effect 180 days after signing, he said. For products that the Pentagon has approved for an exemption from the Federal Communications Commission’s “Covered List” within 20 days of signing, the tariffs will take effect 180 days after signing, the White House said. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
