Section 232 Drone Tariffs: UAS Rates, HTS Lines and the Parts Tranche Ahead

What are the Section 232 drone tariffs?

They are national security duties that President Trump imposed on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their parts under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, by Proclamation 11055 of August 13, 2026, published at 91 FR 53699 on August 19, 2026. The duties sit in Chapter 99 of the HTSUS, at headings 9903.08.20 to 9903.08.26, and apply to imports from every country.

What changes for drone parts on February 9, 2027?

The 25 percent rate extends from finished drones to drone parts. CBP's guidance in CSMS 69738151 (September 2, 2026) says that from that date heading 9903.08.22 also covers parts under 8807.10.00, 8807.20.00, 8807.30.00 and 8807.90.90 "for use in or with an unmanned aircraft system" other than the large-system parts already at 100 percent. For an importer with 40 drone models and 300 spare-part lines, the September tranche was a classification question about the aircraft. The February tranche is a question about every part's end use.

Verified against the Federal Register text, the USITC HTS (Revision 21, Chapter 99, U.S. note 43) and CSMS 69738151 on October 14, 2026. Commerce can add components and CBP can issue new guidance; recheck before you file.

How do the 100 percent and 25 percent tiers split?

The proclamation sets the rates in clause (1) and clause (2). The President's determination, in paragraph 9, states the logic directly: a 100 percent duty "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," and 25 percent on "UAS with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms or less." Paragraph 7 gives the reason for the split: the Secretary of Commerce recommended the higher duty on drones over 25 kg "because those UAS can more easily be used for weapons-related purposes."

Bottom line: For a compliance team importing both camera drones and agricultural or delivery platforms, the tier is decided by three facts per line: maximum take-off weight, whether a thermal imager is integrated, and, for parts, which aircraft the part goes into. Record all three before the entry is filed.

The arithmetic is simple once the tier is right, because heading 8806 carries a Free Column 1 rate. A $40,000 consignment of 2 kg drones without thermal imaging (8806.22.00) pays $10,000 in Section 232 duty at 25 percent. The same consignment with integrated thermal cameras pays $40,000 at 100 percent. Clause (3) of the proclamation says these duties apply "in addition to any other duties," so the totals above are the Section 232 layer only, before MPF, HMF and any other Chapter 99 line.

Which HTS lines does the drone tariff cover?

U.S. note 43(c) to subchapter III of Chapter 99 lists the HTS numbers. The table below follows HTS Revision 21, the current revision since October 9, 2026, and the CSMS for subdivision (c)(5), which is not yet in the HTS text.

Bottom line: For a broker filing drone entries for several importers, (c)(3) and (c)(4) list the same six subheadings. The HTS number alone cannot tell you the rate; the thermal imaging fact has to travel with the product record.

The subheadings themselves split by weight. In Chapter 88, 8806.21 to 8806.29 are drones "for remote-controlled flight only," and 8806.91 to 8806.99 are the other drones, each ladder running from 250 g up to over 150 kg. Chapter 88 note 1 excludes "flying toys, designed solely for amusement purposes," which go to heading 9503 and fall outside note 43.

Are docking stations and components covered?

Yes, and they are where scoping errors are most likely. Docking stations were named for a reason. The Secretary recommended the same high rate on them "as they can be used to control autonomous UAS systems that are typically deployed around U.S. critical infrastructure" (proclamation, paragraph 7).

The two docking-station lines are basket statistical suffixes. 8504.40.9580 is an "Other" line under static converters, and 8537.10.9170 is an "Other" line under boards and panels for electric control, with a 2.7 percent Column 1 rate. Many products in those lines have nothing to do with drones. Heading 9903.08.20 exists for that case: it covers articles in the enumerated provisions of note 43(c) "that are not for use in or with the products described therein," at no additional duty. CBP's guidance requires a Chapter 99 number on every entry in the subject classifications, so even a non-drone power supply under 8504.40.9580 reports 9903.08.20.

A worked example: a $5,000 control panel under 8537.10.9170 for a drone docking station pays $135 at 2.7 percent plus $5,000 at 100 percent, $5,135 in total. The same panel for a factory conveyor reports 9903.08.20 and pays $135.

Quotable insight: The September tranche of the drone tariff turns on the aircraft; the February tranche turns on the bill of materials. One 8807.30.00 part can land three ways: 100 percent today as a part for a 30 kg inspection drone, 25 percent from February 9, 2027 as a part for a 2 kg camera drone, and no Section 232 duty as a helicopter part under 9903.08.20. The HTS number never changes. The end-use record does.

Parts for large agricultural, retail delivery and Department of War systems are excluded from (c)(2) by its own words. On the text of the CSMS, they then fall within (c)(5), which covers parts "except those covered in subdivision (c)(2)," and so reach 25 percent from February 9, 2027. That is a reading of the published text, not a CBP ruling; confirm it with your broker before you rely on it.

Is there an in-transit exception for the drone tariffs?

No. The proclamation has no transit provision, and CSMS 69738151 does not add one. Both tranches apply to goods "entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time" on the stated date. Under the default rule in 19 CFR 141.69, the rate in effect at the time of entry applies, so the vessel's sailing date does not help. The guide to tariff effective dates and goods in transit sets the drone action next to the Section 301 forced labor notice, which did carry a two-date transit clause.

Two date rules in the proclamation do shift the start:

1. Listed companies. Clause (7) sets the effective date at 180 days from the proclamation, which is February 9, 2027, 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, for their listed products and components. The Secretary of Commerce informs CBP which companies and products qualify.
2. Foreign trade zones. Clause (9) requires covered goods admitted to an FTZ on or after the effective date to take privileged foreign status under 19 CFR 146.41, unless they are eligible for domestic status under 19 CFR 146.43. Admitting drones to a zone does not defer the rate decision.

For parts that will cross the February 9, 2027 line, plan the entry date, not the sailing date. A part entered at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 8 is outside (c)(5); one entered two minutes later is inside it.

How do the drone tariffs stack with other duties?

They add to everything else on the line, with few exceptions written into the text.

• Free trade agreements do not remove them. Note 43(b) says the duties "shall be collected in addition to any special rate of duty otherwise applicable." A USMCA claim on a drone does not lift 9903.08.22.
• Chapter 99 relief is barred. Note 43(b) also states that no claim "shall be allowed under a provision of chapter 99 to the HTSUS that may set forth a lower rate of duty or provide duty-free treatment," taking into account information supplied by CBP.
• The forced labor exemption does not name drones. Heading 9903.05.90 removes the Section 301 forced labor duty for listed Section 232 programs: steel, aluminum and copper articles, vehicles and parts, wood products, patented pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. In HTS Revision 21 its description does not list unmanned aircraft. Check the full Section 301 position for each origin in the 9903.05 headings by country table.
• Antidumping and countervailing duties still apply, per note 43(b).
• Reporting order. CBP's CSMS 69668138 (August 27, 2026) has filers report Section 301 numbers first, then Section 338, then Section 232, ahead of the Chapter 1 to 97 number.

Drawback is narrow. Clause (8) makes "only manufacturing drawback claims" under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and (b) available, and only for articles that are products of the listed Trade Agreement Partners (the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada and any partner that concludes a trade and security agreement), have at least 85 percent partner content, and are not of a type under an AD/CVD order. The post on manufacturing drawback for Section 301 and Section 232 duties covers how a claim is built. GingerControl identifies and documents the opportunity; your licensed broker or counsel files.

For every other Section 232 program on one page, with rates and effective dates, see the Section 232 tariff rate table.

How do you get ready for the February 2027 parts tranche?

The work is a catalog review, done once and kept current:

1. List every SKU under 8806, 8807, 8504.40.9580 and 8537.10.9170. Note 43 reaches no HTS number outside these four groups.
2. Record the three facts per drone. Maximum take-off weight, whether a thermal imager is integrated, and the 8806.2 or 8806.9 split.
3. Map each part to its aircraft. For 8807 lines, record which UAS the part goes into, that UAS's weight, and whether it is a retail delivery, agricultural or Department of War system. A part that serves both drones and manned aircraft needs an end-use record per shipment.
4. Check origin and certification. The 10 and 15 percent rates depend on a process the proclamation tells Commerce to establish; no Federal Register notice setting it up appeared in a search on October 14, 2026, and CBP said on September 2 not to report 9903.08.23 or 9903.08.24 until further guidance.
5. Watch for inclusions. Clause (5) lets the Secretary add components by Federal Register notice, effective on the date that notice sets; paragraph 11 calls this inclusion "on a rolling basis."

Where a parts catalog meets a new rule

The February tranche is a bill-of-materials problem. The duty on an 8807 part depends on which aircraft it goes into, and that link usually lives in engineering and ERP records rather than in the customs file. GingerControl builds GingerOS, the AI trade compliance platform that runs on your process. It checks every SKU against a new rule and lists the ones it hits, and shows each affected part's new duty and next step. When a customer uploads its BOMs, GingerOS links the products in both directions (what a part goes into, what a product is made from). A GingerOS project starts with Prototype Week: a clickable prototype of the customer's own flow in three days, with a quote after. GingerControl's classifications are for general reference, educational and planning purposes; before a code goes on an entry, the customer's licensed customs broker reviews it.

References

1. Federal Register, Proclamation 11055 of August 13, 2026, "Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the United States"
   Data cited: rates, tiers, effective dates, paragraphs 7 and 9, clauses (1) to (9), absence of a transit clause
   Source: 91 FR 53699, FR Doc. 2026-16979
   Published: August 19, 2026
2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CSMS 69738151, "GUIDANCE: Section 232 Duties on Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components"
   Data cited: headings 9903.08.20 to 9903.08.26, subdivision (c)(5) from February 9, 2027, reporting holds on 9903.08.23, .24 and .26, 9903.08.25 expiry
   Source: CSMS 69738151
   Published: September 2, 2026
3. U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Revision 21 (2026), Chapter 99 U.S. note 43 and headings 9903.08.20 to 9903.08.26; Chapter 88; heading 9903.05.90
   Data cited: HTS numbers per subdivision, heading descriptions and rates, 8806 and 8807 descriptions, Column 1 rates
   Source: USITC HTS
   Accessed: October 14, 2026
4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CSMS 69668138, "Updated Guidance: Entry Summary Order of Reporting for Multiple HTS when 98 or 99 HTS are Required"
   Data cited: reporting order of Chapter 99 numbers
   Source: CSMS 69668138
   Published: August 27, 2026
5. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 19 CFR 141.69, time of entry and rate of duty
   Data cited: rate in effect at the time of entry
   Source: 19 CFR 141.69