Are Chinese drones now exempt from tariffs?

[CaseyGuy]

Today AP reports, “The Trump administration late Friday said they would exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from reciprocal tariffs, a move that could help keep the prices down for popular consumer electronics that aren’t usually made in the U.S.”

I didn't see a link to a list of the exemptions. Does anyone know if drones are exempted? Are the tariffs on these "exemptions" 0%? 10%? 20%? 25%? Other?

 

[mavic3usa]

In my opinion, the answer is NO. I believe this was a deal (led by our friends over at Apple) to spare them from the widespread speculation that price increases for MacBooks and iPhones were imminent. Others will benefit a little as well but not so much as Tim Cook, an American who made promises to invest in America. Tim is smart enough to know that all the government needs is reassurance and to look good and save face so he probably cut a deal for the category segment....a deal that you couldn't just give to Apple only. DJI is Chinese so they're not part of the deal. But who knows, please check back tomorrow. Everything changes daily.

 

[Bad Santa]

Today AP reports, “The Trump administration late Friday said they would exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from reciprocal tariffs, a move that could help keep the prices down for popular consumer electronics that aren’t usually made in the U.S.”

I didn't see a link to a list of the exemptions. Does anyone know if drones are exempted? Are the tariffs on these "exemptions" 0%? 10%? 20%? 25%? Other?

Unlikely that drones will be exempt.
Phones are exempt because Apple "convinced" Trump that the consumer base won't pay triple for iDevices. They had to allow Android phones because of monopoly laws.
Electronic components are exempt because someone reminded someone of how so many US industries were crippled when electronic components stopped being made during the pandemic.

 

[Cafguy]

I'm sure the Walton family gave him a stern phone call.

 

[Calson]

Tim Cook gave $1 million to Trump for his inauguration fund raising scam and that got Trump to take his call. Undoubtedly Apple is donating to Trump in other ways in return for the tariff relief.

If is up to U.S. Customs to decide what constitutes a "computer" If may include drones and it may include digital cameras but as the Trump administration went around the U.S. tariff laws and procedures what will happen is anyone's guess.

 

[mavic3usa]

Good article: Trump’s Tariff Exemptions Spare Some Chinese Tech—But Not Drones: What U.S. Consumers Face In 2025

 

[wco81]

Depressing.

Now why if you buy in Europe or Asia and bring it back with you on a trip?

You use it so it wouldn't be brand new. But would customs impose tariffs? YOu'd probably have to declare it because BP and ICE are looking for any reasons to subject you to searches, like your devices -- phones, computers, iPads -- these days.

 

[mavic3usa]

Depressing.

Now why if you buy in Europe or Asia and bring it back with you on a trip?

You use it so it wouldn't be brand new. But would customs impose tariffs? YOu'd probably have to declare it because BP and ICE are looking for any reasons to subject you to searches, like your devices -- phones, computers, iPads -- these days.

Personal call, the Mavic 3 Pro looks pretty convincing in the smallish over the shoulder bag. However, you're right, you take your chances coming across that border, no matter. Probably would be easier to pack it away in a box of goodies and ship it back rather than having your phone searched, your credit card receipts searched, and being asked if you bought anything on your trip that you forget to declare....last chance.

 

[Bad Santa]

Depressing.

Now why if you buy in Europe or Asia and bring it back with you on a trip?

You use it so it wouldn't be brand new. But would customs impose tariffs? YOu'd probably have to declare it because BP and ICE are looking for any reasons to subject you to searches, like your devices -- phones, computers, iPads -- these days.

Since we don't know the language of the tariff, we can't say either way but here's something to consider.

The tariff might be on goods FROM China and not necessarily goods manufactured in China.
So, if it's that's the case, one could, feasibly, buy ANY item made in China, while vacationing in a different country, and only suffer the tariff from the country where the item was purchased.

That's what they were doing in a country my former employer visited often. They were not allowed to import HP or Toshiba computers from wherever they were made but they were allowed to be brought in from other countries.
His side hustle was to bring in these computers for cheaper than they could route them through the other countries.
He wasn't exactly doing it on the up and up though. He was buying them in the States and shipping them there through a corrupt customs official. That way he could get a retail US computer to that country for almost the price of retail and sell it there for 3X the cost.

 

[mavic3usa]

Since we don't know the language of the tariff, we can't say either way but here's something to consider.

The tariff might be on goods FROM China and not necessarily goods manufactured in China.
So, if it's that's the case, one could, feasibly, buy ANY item made in China, while vacationing in a different country, and only suffer the tariff from the country where the item was purchased.

That's what they were doing in a country my former employer visited often. They were not allowed to import HP or Toshiba computers from wherever they were made but they were allowed to be brought in from other countries.
His side hustle was to bring in these computers for cheaper than they could route them through the other countries.
He wasn't exactly doing it on the up and up though. He was buying them in the States and shipping them there through a corrupt customs official. That way he could get a retail US computer to that country for almost the price of retail and sell it there for 3X the cost.

Since it's an import tax then customs will be looking for goods imported from China. However, if the product is made in China and it is shipped to Vietnam but no substantial changes are made to the product, it will count for China.

But again, nothing today is as it should be; there are no rules...until there are.