President Trump Imposes New Drone Tariffs and Directs Navy to Alter Aircraft Carrier Technology and Allow Foreign Shipbuilding
President Trump signed two proclamations on Thursday, enacting significant changes related to drone imports and naval shipbuilding. One proclamation imposes "ad valorem" tariffs on drones and drone parts, citing national security concerns. These tariffs will take effect in 21 days, with a 100% tariff on "particularly sensitive" drones and a 25% tariff on smaller drones with fewer security concerns. Additionally, a 15% tariff will be applied to drones and components from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan, and a 10% tariff on some drones from the United Kingdom. The second proclamation directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to replace the Advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators on aircraft carriers with traditional steam and hydraulic systems. This directive aligns with President Trump's previous criticisms of the newer technologies. Furthermore, this proclamation orders the establishment of a fifth Naval s...