Trump Imposes Tariffs on Drones and Components

US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on drones and their components, according to a White House statement. A maximum tariff of 100 per cent will be applied to drones deemed most sensitive from a national security perspective, including those with a maximum take-off weight exceeding 25 kilograms and thermal imaging capabilities, as well as docking stations and components for such drones. A 25 per cent tariff will be imposed on smaller drones without these characteristics and on other components. Preferential tariffs of 15 per cent will apply to products from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan, while a 10 per cent tariff will apply to the United Kingdom, provided that almost all equipment, software, and technology are produced in those countries or the US. The new tariffs will take effect 21 days after the order was signed, with tariffs on non-sensitive drone components taking effect 180 days after the signing.