In a Presidential Proclamation published on August 13, 2026, The White House announced that it was introducing Section 232 tariffs on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), as well as their parts and components.

These Section 232 will be tiered, with UAS and UAS components that are “sensitive for national security purposes” subject to a 100% duty rate, while most UAS products will be subject to a 25% duty rate.

UAS Products of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, or a member nation of the European Union, the duty rate will “shall be no higher than 15 percent ad valorem, including any duty rate under Column 1” of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Products of the United Kingdom, the duty rate will be no higher than 10% ad valorum.

These Section 232 duties will apply to UAS goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on September 3, 2026.

UAS goods that are on the Defense Department’s Blue UAS Cleared List, the Blue UAS Framework, or the FCC’s Conditional Approval List on September 2, 2026, will have their tariffs delayed by 180 days.

Onshoring plans for companies that will produce the covered UAS goods are being solicited by the Secretary of Commerce. Approved onshoring plans will allow the company to import UAS and UAS components without paying Section 232 duties in “volumes that are commensurate with the U.S. production facility’s reasonably anticipated annual output.”

The “Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components into the United States” Presidential Proclamation can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/adjusting-imports-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems-and-unmanned-aircraft-systems-components-into-the-united-states/