Trump Slaps 100% Tariffs on Many Drones and All Aircraft Parts
President Trump has signed an order imposing a 100 percent tariff on imports of drones equipped with thermal cameras, drones weighing more than 25kg (about 57 pounds), and any parts for unmanned aircraft in that weight class. Smaller consumer drones, including tiny sub-250-gram models, face a separate, lower tariff rate under the same action.
This builds on earlier restrictions that already blocked many foreign-made drones, routers, robots, and even robotic vacuums from entering the US unless manufacturers meet certain government conditions. Together, these moves signal an aggressive push to reshape supply chains for connected hardware, with heavy drones and their components now facing steep cost increases.
The tariffs will likely raise prices for commercial and industrial drone operators—think agriculture, surveying, and public safety users—who rely on larger, camera-equipped models often sourced from overseas manufacturers like DJI.