US probes drones and polysilicon imports, opening door to tariffs

The United States has opened investigations into imports of drones and their components, alongside those of polysilicon -- an important material for solar power -- in moves that could bring about new tariffs.

The probes launched July 1 by the US Commerce Department are the latest in a series of such actions under President Donald Trump's administration, looking into the effects such imports have on national security.

The United States has also launched similar investigations into imports of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and other goods.


The probes take place under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the same authority Trump has used to slap steep tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum.

Typically, such actions take months to conclude, and they could result in fresh levies if officials deem it necessary to safeguard national security.

In a pair of documents scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Wednesday, the US government called for public comment on the new investigations.

One of them is focused on "imports of polysilicon and its derivatives," while the other centers on "imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their parts and components."

While the documents do not name any countries, Chinese drone maker DJI dominates the global consumer market, and Beijing is also a major player in the world's solar supply chain.

Trump's tariffs targeting various sectors are separate from those he has imposed on imports from different countries.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump's sweeping tariffs have roiled financial markets and triggered fears of an economic downturn.

In April, he slapped a 10 percent levy on goods from almost all US trading partners.

The duties are set to increase for dozens of economies come August 1, while trade negotiations continue as partners try to strike deals to avert the higher levies.