US Drone Tariffs: Thermal Imaging Triggers Top-Tier Duty

New US tariffs impose a 100 percent duty on any drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera, regardless of airframe weight. A sub-25 kg model with thermal capability lands in the top tier, not the 25 percent baseline. Infrastructure inspection, law enforcement, and emergency response operators face doubled platform costs. Duties take effect around September 3, 2026.