On August 13, 2026, President Trump signed a Proclamation establishing a new Section 232 tariff regime covering certain drones, drone docking stations, and drone components.
Key provisions include:
- 100% tariff: A 100% tariff will apply to certain particularly sensitive drones, docking stations, and critical components. This category includes drones with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25 kilograms and drones equipped with thermal imaging capabilities.
- 25% tariff: A 25% tariff will apply to certain smaller drones that do not possess specified national-security-sensitive capabilities, as well as to certain other drone components.
- Country-specific rates: A 15% tariff will apply to covered drones and components from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan. A 10% tariff will apply to covered products from the United Kingdom. To qualify for these rates, substantially all hardware, software, and technology must originate in one of these countries or in the United States.
- U.S. manufacturing/onshoring program: The Secretary of Commerce is directed to establish an onshoring program for companies making new investments in U.S. drone and drone-component manufacturing. Companies whose plans are approved by the Department of Commerce and that begin construction before the end of President Trump’s current term on January 20, 2029, may qualify for tariff exemptions. To qualify, companies may import drones only in volumes commensurate with the reasonably anticipated annual output of their U.S. production facility.
- Future covered products: At a future date, the tariff regime will also apply to goods appearing on the Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List, the Blue UAS Framework, or the FCC’s Conditional Approval List..
Effective Dates
The new Section 232 duties generally become effective September 3, 2026. For drone components that are not considered particularly sensitive, the tariffs will become effective February 9, 2027.
In addition, products and components that the Department of War approves for an exemption from the FCC’s Covered List within 20 days of the Proclamation will be subject to the tariffs beginning February 9, 2027.
Annexes and Supporting Documents
We recommend reviewing the applicable annexes carefully to determine whether specific products or components are subject to the new duties and, where applicable, which tariff rate applies.
Please let us know if you have any questions regarding how these changes may affect your products or imports.
John Boomhover
Director of Compliance & Customs Services
CV International, Inc.
