Trump Imposes Drone and Component Tariffs to Address US Security Threats

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO/Drone or unmanned aerial vehicle of the United States Air Force. ANTARA/HO-Defense Visual Information Distribution Service/aa.

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and their components. This is done to anticipate US security threats.

"President Donald J. Trump has signed a proclamation to address the national security threat posed by imported drones and their components, including by strengthening the American drone industry and supply chain," a White House statement said, quoted by Sputnik as reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 14.

According to the White House, a maximum tariff of 100 percent will be imposed on those considered to be the most sensitive from the US national security point of view, including aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 25 kilograms and thermal imaging capabilities, as well as docking stations and components for the drones.

A tariff of 25 percent will be imposed on those who are smaller without these characteristics as well as on other components.

A preferential tariff of 15 percent will apply to products from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, the tariff for the UK is 10 percent, with the provision that almost all equipment, software, and technology are produced in those countries or in the US.

The new tariffs will take effect 21 days after the order is signed. For components that are not considered highly sensitive, the tariffs will take effect 180 days after the order is signed.