Trump imposes tariffs on drone imports

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation providing for the introduction of tariffs on imports of drones and their components, the White House reported on Friday.

"I have concluded that tariffs must be imposed on certain drones and components for them. In particular, I consider it necessary to impose tariffs of 100% on imports of drones with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 100 kg," the document states.

In addition, it refers to tariffs of 25% on drones whose takeoff weight does not exceed 25 kg. The White House is also publishing lists of drone parts that will be subject to tariffs. The proclamation states that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce is allowed, if necessary, to impose other tariffs on drones as well.

Trump justified such steps on national security grounds. In particular, in his opinion, American companies produce an insufficient number of drones, and the United States has become too heavily dependent on their supplies from abroad.

Source: Interfax