Donald Trump announces tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones

President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday proposed tariffs of up to 100 percent on the import of unmanned drones and their components, aiming to lessen the US dependence on foreign imports in an industry primarily controlled by China. Speaking from Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2026, the White House described the decision as being made for national security reasons.

According to the statement, drones with a weight exceeding 25 kilograms and possessing national security features like thermal cameras and docking stations will be subject to a 100 percent tariff, while lighter drones will face a 25 percent tariff. The tariffs are set to commence on September 3, with the White House aiming to stimulate domestic drone manufacturing and production as well as lessen reliance on foreign supply chains.

Experts have suggested that the tariffs focus primarily on industrial and commercial drones, alongside smaller hobbyist drones to a lesser extent. Clayton Swope, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented to AFP, stating that domestic drone production would "reduce the risk of direct UAS attacks and disruptions, unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration, and other UAS threats to the homeland."

They added that drones are inherently dual-use, serving both commercial and potentially military or paramilitary functions.

The impetus for these tariffs emerged after the war in Ukraine demonstrated how commercial and hobbyist drones could be adapted for frontline attacks. Chinese company DJI, founded in 2006, has dominated the global drone market, holding over two-thirds of the market share, according to multiple studies. DJI has also faced scrutiny from US officials, who accused the company of supplying products used for surveillance of ethnic minorities in China, particularly the Uyghurs.

Since 2022, DJI has been named on a US list of Chinese entities with connections to the military, subjecting its products to restrictions on access to US technology. The company challenged its inclusion in 2024, claiming it was not owned or controlled by the military.

China's response to the US tariffs included restricting drone exports to the United States and blacklisting six companies, a move that followed Washington's imposition of additional tariffs on China and 59 other countries in late July 2026. Earlier this year, the US government also added humanoid and quadruped robots to a list of products and companies prohibited from entering the United States due to critical national security risks, further impacting the Chinese industry's stronghold in this sector.