BEIJING August 20, 2026 – China on Thursday called on the United States to immediately withdraw newly imposed tariffs on Chinese drones and related components, describing the measures as discriminatory and damaging to Chinese companies.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong made the demand during a regular press conference in Beijing. He said the Section 232 tariffs “treat related Chinese products in a discriminatory manner and seriously harm the interests of Chinese companies.” China “firmly opposes” the move, he added.
The tariffs were announced last week by US President Donald Trump under Section 232 of US trade law, citing national security concerns. Rates reach as high as 100% on larger drones or those with sensitive capabilities (such as thermal imaging) and 25% on smaller models. Most of the duties are scheduled to take effect on September 3.
Washington has argued that the United States has become overly dependent on foreign, particularly Chinese, suppliers for unmanned aircraft systems that are critical for both military and civilian applications. Chinese firm DJI currently holds a dominant share of the global commercial drone market.
He Yadong countered that the vast majority of Chinese drones exported to the United States are used for civilian purposes, including agriculture, equipment inspection, and film and entertainment production. He accused the United States of overstretching the concept of national security, applying differentiated tariff rates, and disrupting global drone supply chains.
The dispute adds to ongoing trade and technology tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
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