China ‘firmly opposes’ Trump’s drone tariffs

The commerce ministry spokesman for China, He Yadong, declared on Thursday that Beijing holds a firm opposition to the newly announced US tariffs on unmanned drone imports and their components. These tariffs, which could potentially reach up to 100%, were introduced by US President Donald Trump last week, citing national security concerns.

The White House statement from that time explained that the tariffs aim to lessen the United States' dependence on imports from China in an industry where China currently holds a dominant position.

The spokesman emphasized that these new levies would disrupt global drone supply chains and further undermine a fair and competitive market environment. According to He Yadong, the tariffs violate the concept of national security and are discriminatory towards relevant Chinese products. Beijing has urged the United States to immediately withdraw the planned levies, expressing its strong disapproval of the decision.

China's drone market leader, DJI, a company founded in 2006, currently holds over two-thirds of the global drone market, according to various studies. Since 2022, DJI has been listed on a US list of Chinese firms accused of ties to the military, resulting in restrictions on accessing US technology. DJI has consistently denied these accusations, asserting that it is not owned or controlled by China's military.