Commerce Seeks Input In New Investigation On Imported Drones

Tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Commerce intends to publish notice that it has initiated an investigation into the national security implications of imports of drones, parts, and components. To inform Commerce's assessment under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232), it has requested comments from the public, which will be due August 6, 2025. As seen in connection with Commerce's prior Section 232 aircraft investigation, a focus on drones, parts, and components need not signify narrow coverage of the current investigation. Affected products could become subject to one or more of the following remedies: tariffs, quotas, price floors, subsidies, and/or industrial policy. Parties may wish to comment on the investigation's scope, the structure of any remedy, and the national security factors identified in Commerce's notice.