U.S. to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on drones, 15% on Japan, Sankei reports

According to a report by Sankei News on Aug. 14, 2026, the U.S. government plans to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on imports of drones and related components, with a 15% tariff applying to Japan.

The U.S. government will impose tariffs of up to 100% on drones of certain sizes or equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, as well as major components, while limiting tariffs on imports from Japan and some other regions to 15%. Importers and companies that assemble products domestically will need to understand how the differing rates affect costs by sourcing location. Businesses that import components from overseas and assemble them domestically will be directly affected by the rate differences.