# 2026-16979: White House slaps security brakes on drone imports now. 2026-16979, Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the United States, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2026-08-19, effective 2026-09-03; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-26). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16979 - As of: 2026-08-26 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-16979 - Title: Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the United States - Type: Presidential Document - Agencies: Executive Office of the President - Citation: 91 FR 53699 - Published: 2026-08-19 - Effective: 2026-09-03 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-08-26 ## In one line White House slaps security brakes on drone imports now. ## Summary The U.S. government found that importing drones and their parts in large amounts could hurt national security. Because drones are super important for the military, law enforcement, and protecting critical infrastructure, new rules will adjust how these imports happen to keep America safe. These changes start soon and could affect businesses that bring in drones or drone parts, so they should get ready for new import rules and possible costs. ## Effects PRIA read - 100% Tariff on Large UAS and Docking Stations: cost, high. Starting for goods entered on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on September 3, 2026, imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with a maximum take-off weight over 25 kilograms, UAS that integrate thermal imagers, UAS docking stations, and certain listed components in Annex I will face a 100 percen… - 25% Tariff on Small UAS (≤25 kg): cost, medium. For goods entered on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on September 3, 2026, imports of UAS with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms or less listed in Annex II will face a 25 percent ad valorem duty. This will raise the import cost of smaller commercial and consumer drones unless an alternativ… - 25% Tariff on Certain UAS Components (Feb 9, 2027): cost, medium. For the UAS components listed in Annex III, a 25 percent ad valorem duty will apply to goods entered for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on February 9, 2027. The proclamation states this later effective date is intended to allow time for greater domestic production before the duty t… - Lower Duty Caps for Certain Partner Countries: mixed, medium. The proclamation caps the duty at no higher than 15 percent for products of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, or EU member nations, and at no higher than 10 percent for products of the United Kingdom, but only if substantially all critical components and technology a… - Onshoring Incentive Program with Tariff Benefits: benefit, medium. The Secretary is authorized to accept onshoring plans and may approve companies that commit to build, refurbish, or expand U.S. facilities producing covered UAS and components, provided construction will occur before January 20, 2029. Approved companies may import supply-chain inputs and necessary… - 180‑Day Delay for Certain Pre‑Cleared Companies: benefit, low. For companies on the Department of War's Blue UAS Cleared List, the Blue UAS Framework, or the FCC's Conditional Approval List on September 2, 2026, the proclamation delays the effective date referenced in clause (1) by 180 days for the covered products and their components that appear on those lis… - Limits on Manufacturing Drawback Claims: cost, medium. Manufacturing drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a)-(b) will be available for duties imposed by this proclamation only for articles that (a) are not subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order, (b) are products of specified Trade Agreement Partners (including the United Kingdom, EU, Sw… - Foreign‑Trade Zone Treatment for Covered Products: cost, medium. Any product in Annex I, II, or III (except those eligible for 'domestic status' under 19 CFR 146.43) admitted into a U.S. foreign-trade zone on or after the proclamation's effective date must be admitted as 'privileged foreign status' and will be subject to the proclamation's ad valorem duties upon… ## Related documents - [2026-20855](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20855): Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel, 2026-10-09 - [2026-20629](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20629): National Manufacturing Day, 2026, 2026-10-07 - [2026-20319](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20319): Streamlining Access to Government Services Through America.gov, 2026-10-02 - [2026-20320](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20320): Eliminating Disease-Carrying Pests and Restoring Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors, 2026-10-02 - [2026-19555](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19555): Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program, 2026-09-23 - [2026-19554](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19554): Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, 2026-09-23 ## Sources - [2026-16979 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/19/2026-16979/adjusting-imports-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems-and-unmanned-aircraft-systems-components-into-the) - [2026-16979 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-19/pdf/2026-16979.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-16799, National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16799) - [Next: 2026-17294, Temporary Suspension of Additional Duties To Offset Canadian Discrimination Aga…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17294) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16979 (as of 2026-08-26).