CBP guidance implements Proclamation 11055 Section 232 additional duties on certain unmanned aircraft systems and components from all countries.

This is a Section 232 trade measure administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Section 232 refers to additional import duties or other controls based on a determination that certain imports may affect U.S. national security. Here, the scope concerns certain unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), such as drones, and identified components, potentially from any country. CBP guidance explains how importers should apply the measure at entry.

The measure typically affects importers whose products meet the technical scope of the covered UAS or components, not merely products marketed as drones. The key professional terms are tariff classification (the product’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule code), scope (the technical description of covered goods), country of origin, and additional duty (a duty imposed on top of ordinary customs duties). It matters because an importer may owe an additional duty, need to report specific entry information, and maintain documentation supporting the classification and origin determination.

What to check

• Read the measure’s scope and product descriptions carefully; do not rely only on a product name or marketing description.
• Confirm the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification, including any applicable statistical suffix, with a qualified customs professional when the product or component is complex.
• Check the product’s country of origin under applicable origin rules; the shipping country alone may not determine origin.
• Review CBP implementation guidance and entry instructions to identify any required Chapter 99 or other reporting provisions and whether an exclusion or exception applies.
• Keep specifications, bills of materials, technical literature, origin records, and classification reasoning that support the entry declaration.