[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53699-53712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16979]
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Vol. 91
Wednesday,
No. 159
August 19, 2026
Part II
The President
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Proclamation 11055--Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the United States
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 91 , No. 159 / Wednesday, August 19, 2026 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 53699]]
Proclamation 11055 of August 13, 2026
Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the
United States
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
1. Within the past 90 days, the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) transmitted to me a report on his
investigation into the effects of imports of unmanned
aircraft systems (UAS), as well as their parts and
components (together, UAS components), on the national
security of the United States under section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1862
(section 232). Based on the facts considered in that
investigation, and taking into account the close
relation of the economic welfare of the Nation to our
national security and other relevant factors, see
section 232(d) (19 U.S.C. 1862(d)), the Secretary found
and advised me of his opinion that UAS and UAS
components are being imported into the United States in
such quantities and under such circumstances as to
threaten to impair the national security of the United
States and provided recommendations for action under
section 232 to adjust the imports of UAS and UAS
components so that such imports will not threaten to
impair the national security of the United States.
2. Among other things, the Secretary found that UAS and
UAS components are essential to the national and
economic security of the United States. UAS are a key
technology in modern armed conflict and are critical
for present and future U.S. military operations. They
have proven essential in recent conflicts, as low-cost
UAS are able to inflict significant damage on far more
expensive weapons systems, facilities, and
infrastructure. UAS are used by many executive
departments and agencies (agencies) for purposes of law
enforcement, scientific research, environmental
monitoring, aerial mapping, surveillance, agriculture,
disaster relief, and search and rescue. Further, UAS
are used to protect critical infrastructure against
adversaries that seek to damage or gain information on
the operations of critical infrastructure installations
throughout the United States, safeguarding U.S.
national and economic security. And UAS are widely used
by private companies and State and local governments
for critical applications, such as agriculture,
emergency and first response, telecommunications,
energy, construction, and transportation and delivery.
3. The Secretary found that import penetration from
foreign producers of UAS is substantial and that the
United States is too reliant on foreign sources of UAS
and UAS components. Import reliance creates strategic
vulnerabilities, presenting risks that disruption or
delays due to a geopolitical event or natural disaster
would affect global transportation and trade. Most
commercial and industrial UAS, even those produced in
the United States, incorporate critical parts and
components produced overseas. For example, many U.S.
commercial manufacturers that produce UAS domestically
are highly dependent on foreign sources for critical
UAS components, such as motors, electronic speed
controllers, lithium-ion batteries, and docking
stations, which creates unacceptable national security
vulnerabilities. Such reliance poses significant risks
to U.S. national security through our dependence on
unreliable supply chains for an essential technology
and the potential of significant cybersecurity
vulnerabilities.
[[Page 53700]]
4. In addition, the Secretary found that UAS and UAS
components from certain foreign entities pose security
and safety risks. Such products pose an information
technology security risk because their software allows
data to be sent back to the manufacturer in a foreign
country, which can then be exploited by the government
of that foreign country. Operators cannot control this
data flow because it is integrated into the UAS factory
installed operating system.
5. The Secretary also found that the domestic industry
does not produce enough UAS and UAS components to
safely meet national security needs and that the need
and demand for domestically produced UAS and UAS
components will only increase. As it stands, there are
concerns as to whether the U.S. industry can produce
UAS and UAS components at the required speed and scale
to adequately support national security operations and
activities, including during a surge for wartime or
armed conflict, or in a manner to sustain long-term
economic competitiveness. In the Secretary's opinion,
domestic capacity needs to be expanded rapidly for end
products, components, and subcomponents to meet
anticipated military and commercial requirements and to
ensure the economic competitiveness of the United
States.
6. The Secretary further found that foreign imports and
unfair trade practices, without intervention, will
continue to harm the United States, UAS industry, and
industries that rely on the U.S. UAS industry. In the
Secretary's view, this hinders the incentives for U.S.
producers to invest in developing and expanding
manufacturing capacity, production, and their
workforce.
7. In light of these findings and the other findings in
the Secretary's report, the Secretary recommended
actions to adjust the imports of UAS and UAS components
so that such imports will not threaten to impair the
national security. For example, the Secretary
recommended a high ad valorem duty on UAS with a
maximum take-off weight of more than 25 kilograms,
because those UAS can more easily be used for weapons-
related purposes and are more likely to have
sophisticated technologies for surveillance. The
Secretary recommended imposing the same high ad valorem
tariff on UAS docking stations, as they can be used to
control autonomous UAS systems that are typically
deployed around U.S. critical infrastructure. The
Secretary recommended a lower ad valorem duty on UAS
with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms or less.
The Secretary recommended a lower ad valorem duty on
certain critical UAS components, which would become
effective after a temporary delay, to allow time for
greater domestic production of these products. The
Secretary also recommended that the Department of
Commerce be authorized to establish an onshoring
program for UAS and UAS components that provides
preferential tariff treatment to companies that commit
to building new U.S. manufacturing facilities for UAS
and UAS components.
8. After considering the Secretary's report, the
factors in section 232(d) (19 U.S.C. 1862(d)), and
other relevant factors and information, I concur with
the Secretary's finding that UAS and UAS components are
being imported into the United States in such
quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten
to impair the national security of the United States.
In my judgment, and in light of the Secretary's report,
the factors in section 232(d) (19 U.S.C. 1862(d)), and
other relevant factors and information, I determine
that it is necessary and appropriate to adopt a plan of
action, as described below, to adjust the imports of
UAS and UAS components so that such imports will not
threaten to impair the national security of the United
States.
9. I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to
impose ad valorem duties on certain UAS and UAS
components. Specifically, I determine that it is
necessary and appropriate to impose a 100 percent ad
valorem duty rate on the import of UAS with a maximum
take-off weight of more than 25 kilograms, UAS that
integrate thermal imagers, UAS docking stations, and
certain UAS components, as identified in Annex I to
this proclamation,
[[Page 53701]]
and except as otherwise provided in this proclamation.
In addition, I determine that it is necessary and
appropriate to impose a 25 percent ad valorem duty rate
on imports of UAS with a maximum take-off weight of 25
kilograms or less, as identified in Annex II to this
proclamation, and except as otherwise provided in this
proclamation.
10. I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to
impose a 25 percent ad valorem duty rate on imports of
certain UAS components, as identified in Annex III to
this proclamation, and except as otherwise provided in
this proclamation. This duty will take effect 180 days
from the date of this proclamation to incentivize
production onshoring.
11. Further, I determine that it is necessary and
appropriate to authorize the Secretary to include
additional UAS components within the scope of the
tariffs, on a rolling basis, when he determines that
imports of those UAS components threaten to undermine
the actions taken to address the national security
risks found in this proclamation.
12. I also determine that it is necessary and
appropriate to establish an incentive program for
companies investing in new U.S. production capacity for
UAS and UAS components, as further detailed below.
13. In my judgment, the actions in this proclamation
are necessary and appropriate to address the threatened
impairment of the national security of the United
States posed by imports of UAS and UAS components. The
actions in this proclamation will, among other things,
encourage increased domestic production of UAS and UAS
components and reduced reliance on foreign sources and
foreign supply chains. These actions also will promote
investment, employment, manufacturing, and innovation
in the United States for UAS and UAS components and
accessories; strengthen supply chains; enhance
industrial resilience; and generate meaningful economic
benefits. And these actions will strengthen the ability
of the defense industrial base to domestically produce
key systems and products that support military
operations, defense readiness, and other national
security functions and activities.
14. Section 232 authorizes the President to take action
to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives
that are being imported into the United States in such
quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten
to impair the national security so that such imports
will not threaten to impair the national security.
15. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended
(19 U.S.C. 2483) (section 604), authorizes the
President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes
affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder,
including the removal, modification, continuance, or
imposition of any rate of duty or other import
restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, by the authority vested in me
by the Constitution and the laws of the United States
of America, including section 232; section 604; and
section 301 of title 3, United States Code, do hereby
proclaim as follows:
(1) Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn
from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on
September 3, 2026, except for products covered by clause (6) of this
proclamation, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as
provided in Annex IV to this proclamation and the applicable ad valorem
rate of duty for the imports of UAS and UAS components listed in Annex I
and Annex II to this proclamation shall be:
(a) 100 percent for the UAS and UAS docking stations and critical
components listed in Annex I to this proclamation, unless a lower rate of
duty applies pursuant to clause (4) or (6) of this proclamation; and
(b) 25 percent for the UAS listed in Annex II to this proclamation,
unless a lower rate of duty applies pursuant to clause (4) or (6) of this
proclamation.
[[Page 53702]]
(2) Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn
from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on
February 9, 2027, for the UAS components listed in Annex III to this
proclamation, the applicable ad valorem duty rate imposed pursuant to
section 232 shall be 25 percent, unless a lower duty rate applies pursuant
to clause (4) or (6) of this proclamation.
(3) The duties imposed pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) of this proclamation
shall continue in effect unless they are expressly reduced, modified, or
terminated. These duties shall apply in addition to any other duties,
taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such products, except as
otherwise specified in this proclamation.
(4) For products of Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein, or a member nation of the European Union, the duty rate
shall be no higher than 15 percent ad valorem, including any duty rate
under Column 1 of the HTSUS (Column 1 Duty Rate). For products of the
United Kingdom, the duty rate shall be no higher than 10 percent ad
valorem. These duty rates shall apply only if substantially all the
critical components and technology are certified by importers to be
products of the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan,
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, a member nation of the European Union, or the
United Kingdom. The Secretary, in consultation with any senior executive
branch officials the Secretary deems appropriate, shall establish a process
to determine whether the criteria in this clause are met for particular
products. The Secretary shall inform U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) of the products that meet or will meet the criteria in this clause.
(5) The Secretary is authorized to subject additional UAS components to the
tariffs imposed by this proclamation if he determines that imports of the
UAS component have increased in a manner that threatens to impair the
national security; contribute to the national security threat found in this
proclamation; or otherwise undermine the objective of the action taken in
this proclamation or pursuant to this proclamation to address the national
security threat found in this proclamation. In determining whether to
subject additional UAS components to the tariffs imposed by this
proclamation, the Secretary may solicit information, feedback,
recommendations, or other relevant materials from domestic producers,
industry associations, or other interested parties. The additional ad
valorem duty rate applicable under clause (1) or (2) of this proclamation
shall apply to any new UAS components included by the Secretary. Any
inclusion shall apply to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from
warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on the date
that the Secretary makes the requisite finding or the first practicable
effective date after that time, as set forth in a notice in the Federal
Register issued by the Secretary. The Secretary is authorized to reconsider
his inclusion decisions, including by modifying or reversing his decisions.
(6) The Secretary is authorized to and shall establish a program to
incentivize new investment in U.S. production facilities to produce UAS and
UAS components (Covered Products).
(a) The Secretary is authorized to solicit and accept onshoring plans
from companies that are building new facilities in the United States that
will produce Covered Products. Any onshoring plan shall include: a
commitment, if the plan is approved, to build, refurbish, or expand a
facility in the United States that will produce Covered Products; a
commitment that construction will occur before January 20, 2029; and any
other relevant information and analysis, including requirements set by the
Secretary.
(b) The Secretary is authorized to approve onshoring plans described in
subclause (a) of this clause. In determining whether an onshoring plan
qualifies for approval, the Secretary shall consider all relevant factors
he deems appropriate, such as whether the company has received a
Conditional Approval with an approved onshoring plan from the Department
[[Page 53703]]
of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the anticipated
start date of construction, whether the proposed plan's project timeline is
commercially reasonable, whether the proposed plan's project milestones are
commercially reasonable, the anticipated annual production of Covered
Products from the onshoring project, whether the proposed plan's Covered
Products production projections are reasonable, and how the benefits of the
reduced tariff rate will be allocated between the applicants of the
onshoring plan. For companies that have submitted UAS-related onshoring
information to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for adjudication
by DoW or DHS, the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Homeland Security
are authorized to share such information with the Secretary. When approving
onshoring plans, the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent with the
need to address the national security threat found in this proclamation.
(c) If the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of War and any
other senior executive branch official he deems appropriate, approves a
company's onshoring plan, the Secretary shall allow the company to import
Covered Products for its supply chain as well as necessary production
equipment, in volumes that are commensurate with the U.S. production
facility's reasonably anticipated annual output of Covered Products when
the onshoring project is completed, without paying applicable section 232
duties. Such benefits shall be provided during the period that the facility
is under construction.
(d) The Secretary is authorized to take all actions that he deems
appropriate to implement and effectuate this program, including, consistent
with applicable law, the issuance of regulations, rules, guidance, and
procedures. The Secretary shall streamline this process for industry
seeking to onshore and align the onshoring requirements with the FCC's
Conditional Approval application, where appropriate. All approved onshoring
plans shall be subject to monitoring and enforcement by the Secretary. The
Secretary may require that companies with approved onshoring plans submit
reports to the Department of Commerce to ensure compliance with domestic
manufacturing commitments, and the Secretary may require that such reports
be audited, including by external auditing firms. Should the Secretary
determine that a company is substantially failing to meet its agreed-upon
commitments that are the basis for granting the tariff benefits detailed in
this proclamation, the Secretary is authorized to cease and rescind the
tariff benefits awarded pursuant to this proclamation. In cases where the
executive branch assesses that a company engaged in fraud or deliberately
misled the United States Government with respect to onshoring commitments,
the rescission of tariff benefits can be retroactive to the extent
permitted by law, and the Commissioner of CBP may collect the additional
tariffs owed because of the retroactive rescission of the tariff benefits.
The executive branch may seek or impose any appropriate fines or penalties
to the extent consistent with applicable law.
(7) For companies on the DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List, the Blue UAS
Framework, or the FCC's Conditional Approval List on September 2, 2026, the
effective date referenced in clause (1) of this proclamation shall be 180
days from the date of this proclamation, with respect to the Covered
Products that are included on the FCC's Conditional Approval list, as well
as their components, and products that are included on the DoW's Blue UAS
Cleared List, as well as their components. The Secretary shall inform CBP
of the companies and products that meet or will meet the criteria in this
clause.
(8) Only manufacturing drawback claims made in accordance with subsections
(a) and (b) of section 313 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C.
1313(a)-(b), shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant
to this proclamation on articles that meet the following conditions:
[[Page 53704]]
(a) The article is not of a type of merchandise subject to an antidumping
or countervailing duty order, without regard to whether the article is from
the country or countries listed in the order or orders;
(b) The article is a product of Trade Agreement Partners, composed of the
United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, Mexico, Canada, and any trading partner with which the
United States concludes a trade and security agreement; and
(c) At least 85 percent of the content of the article is a product of
Trade Agreement Partners.
(9) Any product described in Annex I, Annex II, or Annex III to this
proclamation, except those eligible for admission as ``domestic status'' as
described in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to a duty imposed by this
proclamation and that is admitted into a United States foreign trade zone
on or after the effective date of this proclamation, must be admitted as
``privileged foreign status'' as described in 19 CFR 146.41 and will be
subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related
to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.
(10) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland
Security, the United States Trade Representative, the Chairman of the
United States International Trade Commission, and any other senior
executive branch officials the Secretary deems appropriate, shall determine
whether any modifications to the HTSUS, end-use certifications, or other
administrative measures are necessary to effectuate or implement this
proclamation or any actions taken pursuant to this proclamation, and shall
make such modifications through notice in the Federal Register. The
Secretary may also make any technical or ministerial corrections to any
annexes to this proclamation.
(11) The Secretary shall continue to monitor and evaluate imports of UAS
and UAS components. The Secretary shall, from time to time, review the
status of imports of UAS and UAS components with respect to the national
security. The Secretary shall inform the President of any circumstances
that, in the Secretary's opinion, might indicate the need for further
action by the President under section 232. The Secretary shall also inform
the President of any circumstance that, in the Secretary's opinion, might
indicate that any of the actions taken under section 232 are no longer
necessary. The Secretary shall provide one of these updates within 120 days
of the date of this proclamation, and that update shall include information
the Secretary deems relevant, such as market conditions.
(12) To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Secretary and the
Secretary of Homeland Security are directed and authorized to take all
actions that are appropriate to implement and effectuate this proclamation
and any actions contemplated by this proclamation--including through
temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or through notices in the
Federal Register and by adopting rules, regulations, or guidance--and to
employ all powers granted to me, including by section 232, as may be
appropriate to implement and effectuate this proclamation. The head of each
executive department and agency (agency) is authorized to and shall take
all appropriate measures within the agency's authority to implement this
proclamation. The head of each agency may, consistent with applicable law,
including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, redelegate the
authority to take such appropriate measures within the agency.
(13) The Secretary may issue rules, regulations, and guidance consistent
with this proclamation, including to address operational necessity.
(14) The Secretary of Homeland Security may take any appropriate measures
to administer, implement, and enforce this proclamation and the tariff
regime imposed in this proclamation.
[[Page 53705]]
(15) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is
inconsistent with this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such
inconsistency.
(16) If any provision of this proclamation or the application of any
provision of this proclamation to any individual or circumstance is held to
be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its
provisions to any other individual or circumstance shall not be affected.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and fifty-
first.
(Presidential Sig.)
Billing code 3395-F4-P
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[FR Doc. 2026-16979
Filed 8-18-26; 11:15 am]
Billing code 7020-02-C