On August 13, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation implementing tariffs on imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and related components. The Proclamation imposes:

  • a 100% ad valorem tariff on drones of a certain size or with certain capabilities that are particularly sensitive for national security purposes, docking stations of these drones, and certain critical components of these drones. This drone category includes drones with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 25 kilograms and drones with thermal imaging capabilities.
  • a 25% ad valorem tariff on certain drones that are smaller in size and lack certain capabilities that particularly implicate national security, and on other drone components.
  • a 15% ad valorem tariff on drones and components from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan and a 10% ad valorem tariff for drones from the United Kingdom, provided that substantially all hardware, software, and technology originate from within these countries and the United States.  

The Annexes to the Proclamation provide details on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings covered for each level of tariffs.  Most of these tariffs will be effective as of September 3, 2026; however, certain tariffs will be delayed until February 9, 2027, to allow for greater domestic production of certain products. These duties will apply in addition to any other duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such products, except as otherwise specified in the Proclamation. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to subject additional UAS components to the tariffs imposed by the Proclamation if it is determined that imports of the UAS component have increased in a manner that threatens to impair the national security.

The Proclamation authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an onshoring program to incentivize new investments in U.S. production facilities to produce drones and drone components.  Any onshoring plan must include: a commitment to build, refurbish, or expand a facility in the United States that will produce covered UAS products; a commitment that construction will occur before January 20, 2029; and any other relevant information and analysis necessary for consideration by the Department of Commerce.

The tariffs are the result of a Section 232 investigation initiated on July 1, 2025 to determine the effects on the national security of imports of UAS.  See SmarTrade blog post of July 15, 2025, for more details.

Posted in Section 232 Investigations, Tariffs/Trade Policy
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Photo of Scott E. Diamond** Scott E. Diamond**

Scott is a senior policy advisor with more than 25 years’ experience with the legislative and regulatory processes involved in international trade policy, remedies and enforcement. This includes working with clients on matters involving export controls, economic sanctions, human rights and forced labor…

Scott is a senior policy advisor with more than 25 years’ experience with the legislative and regulatory processes involved in international trade policy, remedies and enforcement. This includes working with clients on matters involving export controls, economic sanctions, human rights and forced labor compliance, corporate anti-boycott and antibribery compliance, national security investigations, and foreign direct investment in the United States.

**Not licensed to practice law.

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Photo of David M. Schwartz David M. Schwartz

David is the leader of Thompson Hine’s International Trade practice group and a member of the firm’s International Committee. He advises clients on the risks and opportunities presented by U.S. international trade laws and regulations and international trade agreements. He focuses on antidumping…

David is the leader of Thompson Hine’s International Trade practice group and a member of the firm’s International Committee. He advises clients on the risks and opportunities presented by U.S. international trade laws and regulations and international trade agreements. He focuses on antidumping (AD), countervailing duty (CVD) and safeguard litigation, international trade policy, and cross-border compliance issues affecting goods, services, technology and investments that involve transportation, customs, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott and anti-bribery laws and regulations.

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Photo of Francesca M.S. Guerrero Francesca M.S. Guerrero

Francesca counsels clients on compliance with export controls, sanctions, import regulations, human rights and forced labor, and the FCPA and antibribery laws. She works closely with companies to develop tailored compliance programs that fit their specific needs, and routinely advises clients on some…

Francesca counsels clients on compliance with export controls, sanctions, import regulations, human rights and forced labor, and the FCPA and antibribery laws. She works closely with companies to develop tailored compliance programs that fit their specific needs, and routinely advises clients on some of their most challenging international transactions, involving dealings in high-risk jurisdictions or with high-risk counterparties. Francesca also counsels companies through all phases of internal investigations of potential trade and antibribery violations and represents companies across industries before related government agencies.

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Photo of Samir D. Varma Samir D. Varma

Samir advises multinational corporations on export controls, economic sanctions and customs, and counsels individuals and corporations on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws. He represents clients in enforcement actions before U.S. regulatory agencies and conducts corporate internal investigations.

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