More tariffs questions

[akdrone]

It's my understanding that currently there is a 145% tariff on goods over $800 from China. DJI's prices have not reflected that at all but I understand that the enterprise drones are no longer available. If you order a Mavic 3 Pro now at $2199 (or whatever) will you as the consumer be required to pay that tariff of 145% when it arrives? I know some folks are having their drones turned around for no apparent reason. I have a fly away in progress and hopefully will have a new Mav3Pro shipped shortly and am concerned about just getting it let alone them charging a tariff but regardless of that I remain unclear on how the tariff is charged. Chat GPT (can't make a mistake, right?) when asked "If I order a 3000 drone from china will I get an additional charge from customs when it arrives?" says,

What to Expect When Importing a Drone from China​

1. High Tariffs on Chinese Imports​

As of April 2025, the U.S. has imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, including drones. The baseline tariff on Chinese imports has increased to 145% . This means your $3,000 drone could be subject to approximately $4,350 in tariffs, bringing the total cost to around $7,350.

2. Elimination of the De Minimis Exemption​

Previously, the de minimis exemption allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. However, this exemption has been eliminated for shipments from China effective May 2, 2025 . Therefore, your $3,000 drone will not qualify for any duty-free threshold and will be fully subject to applicable tariffs.
3. Customs Bond Requirement
For imports valued over $2,500, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a customs bond. This bond ensures that all duties, taxes, and fees are paid. You can obtain a single-entry bond for this shipment or a continuous bond if you plan to import regularly .

4. Proper Classification and Compliance​

Drones are classified under specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, and it’s crucial to use the correct code to determine the applicable duty rate. Misclassification can lead to penalties, delays, or seizure of goods . Additionally, ensure that the drone complies with all U.S. regulations, including those related to forced labor and other trade restrictions.

Recommendations Before Ordering​

Consult a Licensed Customs Broker: They can help navigate the complex import process, ensure proper classification, and assist with obtaining the necessary customs bond.

• Calculate Total Landed Cost: Before purchasing, factor in the drone’s price, estimated tariffs, shipping fees, and any additional costs to understand the full financial impact.
• Explore Domestic Options: Given the high tariffs, consider purchasing a drone from U.S.-based retailers or manufacturers to potentially avoid these additional charges.

Your thoughts ?

 

[hank970]

Tariffs, if any, are paid by importers at the port of entry. Whether or not some or all of those additional costs are then passed along to wholesale distributors, retailers, and consumers is the question. Some folks along the supply chain may absorb some of their burden to maintain good will with customers, and others not. Barring a reversal of the current insanity, I'd expect the costs of all foreign goods to increase.

Recent news is that Chinese ships won't be unloaded at ports of entry until this mess is sorted out.

 

[akdrone]

that doesn't bode well for people like me hoping to get a shipment of my replaced drone from china...

 

[mavic3usa]

One perspective:

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[Bad Santa]

De minimis was canceled.
Added was a tax, I mean "tariff" of $75.

A month ago I bought something for $10.
Today I needed a replacement.
The seller added $888 to the shipping, I'm assuming, to effectively prevent anyone from purchasing.
A different seller just sent me a message stating they cannot ship the item and will get back to me when they can. Odd how I didn't get my money back.

 

[wco81]

Only chance is if some stores still have inventory from shipments from months ago, before there were tariffs.

But what is unfortunate is that DJI seems to have gone more for selling directly, through their site, while distributors like Amazon and B&H haven't had a lot of inventory, especially the latest drones like the Air 3 and Air 3S.

So if you have to order from DJI, you're dealing with Customs possibly holding up the drone and eventually tariffs added to the price when you place the order at DJI online store.

 

[Meta4]

I remain unclear on how the tariff is charged.

Ask the people who might know ..... call Customs and see what they have to say.

 

[Torben]

that doesn't bode well for people like me hoping to get a shipment of my replaced drone from china...

What if You buy it in Canada or Europe? Will You still be punished with absurd tarifs?

 

[wco81]

What if You buy it in Canada or Europe? Will You still be punished with absurd tarifs?

Do you mean if an American buys it in Canada and Europe?

Because if they try that the shipment will be checked at Customs and they will make you pay.

Or in my case, I'm in Portugal now. If I were to find an Air 3S while in Europe and I tried to bring it back, I would be expected to declare that I spent €1600 or however much it costs here and then be assessed any tariffs or customs fees on it.

I could pretend that I had bought it in the US and took it on my trip and just am returning to the US with it but if they catch you lying, it could be a lot more trouble than whatever the tariffs are.

 

[KAOS Imagery]

DJI has a warehouse is California. So any inventory there before the tariffs started would not be affected.

I wonder if any of the Mavic 4s were ready and boxed and shipped there before the tariffs....that would be great for us in the US....

 

[Cafguy]

Here is an E-mail I got from My Drone Store. I edited out the name just in case.

Tariff Impacts at ########​

Announcement from ####### CEO - The Impact of Tariffs​

To our valued FPV community,

I wanted to personally take a moment to share some important updates about changes at #####, what’s driving them, and how we’re working through one of the most difficult periods we’ve faced as a company.

As many of you know, we’ve proudly served the FPV community for over 10 years. From the very beginning, our mission has always been the same: provide high-quality gear, fast shipping, and unmatched support to help keep this community flying and innovating.

Due to a recent and unexpected policy shift, the majority of drone parts we import from China are now subject to a 125% tariff rate (subject to change). These import duties have caused our costs to skyrocket nearly overnight.

For the past several weeks, we’ve done everything possible behind the scenes to shield our customers by absorbing 30% to 45% in additional fees on each shipment without increasing prices. But now, with this new spike in tariffs, that’s no longer sustainable.

Any catalog price increases you may see are temporary measures implemented to adjust to the situation as it evolves. At this time, only products imported from China are increased in price, but this may be subject to change depending on global tariff policies. As conditions improve or stabilize, we fully intend to reassess and adjust accordingly. We truly dislike making any changes that affect our community, but these decisions are made with the sole purpose of keeping ######### operating and able to serve you long into the future.

We're being as conservative as possible with any price increases and aim to keep them as minimal as possible. Our catalog's prices may increase or decrease substantially in the coming weeks as we closely monitor the situation at hand.

We want to be absolutely clear: in no way are we trying to price gouge or profit off this situation. These price adjustments are not designed to increase our margins. Our only goal is to weather this storm, protect our team, maintain the service you count on, and ensure we don’t go under. They are simply the minimum steps necessary to keep ######### afloat.

As we navigate this, we’ve had to temporarily halt some incoming shipments to re-evaluate costs and supply chains. This means some stock may be limited in the short term, but we’re working hard to make smart decisions that protect our customers and the future of ######.

We expect that other drone retailers will face similar challenges, as this is an industry-wide issue affecting imported goods.

To help absorb rising operational and import costs without raising catalog prices further, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the free shipping minimum from $99 to $199. This move allows us to continue offering excellent service and fast turnaround times, without compromising the experience you’ve come to expect from us. Additionally, point earning for ####### Rewards is temporarily paused. You can still redeem any existing points for rewards.

More than anything, this is about protecting what we’ve built together. The community, the service, our team, and the future of #######.

We’re not a massive corporation. We’re a tight-knit, passionate team that loves this hobby just as much as you do. Every decision we make right now is rooted in the goal of continuing to serve you not just today, but for many years to come.

Thank you for your patience, your loyalty, and for being part of what makes FPV so special. We’re here because of you, and we’re working hard to make sure we stay here with our shelves stocked, our service strong, and our passion alive.

Sincere regards,
Serge Marachilian
CEO, #######

 

[Vic Moss]

If anyone wants to do something about this, tweet out my article and tag Trump and Vance.

Tariffs And The U.S. Drone Industry. - Drone Service Providers Alliance

And open letter to President Trump. Dear President Trump, I’d like to take a moment and explain what the tariffs are doing to the U.S. drone industry. In a nutshell, it’s one more nail in the coffin for us. That’s obviously a bit of an overstatement, but it’s not far off with all of […]

dspalliance.org

 

[DougMcC]

If anyone wants to do something about this, tweet out my article and tag Trump and Vance.

Tariffs And The U.S. Drone Industry. - Drone Service Providers Alliance

And open letter to President Trump. Dear President Trump, I’d like to take a moment and explain what the tariffs are doing to the U.S. drone industry. In a nutshell, it’s one more nail in the coffin for us. That’s obviously a bit of an overstatement, but it’s not far off with all of […]

dspalliance.org

Great letter, Vic. Well done.
Doug

 

[GFields]

Although it may be very difficult, keep in mind that the intention of the forum is not for your views on political candidates or political debates. Comments that cross the line will be deleted, and the possibility of the thread being locked.

One post has already been removed.

 

[KB9Radio]

Isn't it great! So much winning...

 

[Torben]

Do you mean if an American buys it in Canada and Europe?

Because if they try that the shipment will be checked at Customs and they will make you pay.

Or in my case, I'm in Portugal now. If I were to find an Air 3S while in Europe and I tried to bring it back, I would be expected to declare that I spent €1600 or however much it costs here and then be assessed any tariffs or customs fees on it.

I could pretend that I had bought it in the US and took it on my trip and just am returning to the US with it but if they catch you lying, it could be a lot more trouble than whatever the tariffs are.

 

[KB9Radio]

But the tariff from other countries is only 10%, while still ridiculously high, it's a heck of a lot less than 145% that is is from China. So you would save a substantial amount buying it overseas (Portugal) and bringing it through customs. Keep in mind tariffs have been 1.5 to 2% for the last 20 years with no problems, but this is the way it is now.

 

[Bad Santa]

But the tariff from other countries is only 10%, while still ridiculously high, it's a heck of a lot less than 145% that is is from China. So you would save a substantial amount buying it overseas (Portugal) and bringing it through customs. Keep in mind tariffs have been 1.5 to 2% for the last 20 years with no problems, but this is the way it is now.

The tariff is based on country of manufacture, not country of purchase.

 

[Zbip57]

The importer pays the tariff. If you personally are the importer, then you pay the tariff. If you're buying the item off the shelf at Walmart, then Walmart (as the importer) will have paid the tariff and you see the effect of that in the price increase of that shelf item. Walmart isn't just going to absorb that cost on their own, they pass it on to the consumer.

China does not pay that tariff. It's the US importer or consumer who ends up paying. China only gets hurt indirectly when American consumers decide they can no longer can afford to pay that inflated price.