On the afternoon of August 20, the Ministry of Commerce held its regular press conference. In response to a media inquiry regarding the recent US presidential proclamation imposing 10% to 100% ad valorem tariffs on imported drones and components under the guise of addressing a national security crisis, a ministry spokesperson expressed concern.

Spokesperson He Yadong stated that China has taken note of the US decision to levy Section 232 tariffs on drones and related parts. He emphasized that China has consistently viewed US Section 232 measures as a pretext for unilateralism and protectionism under the banner of national security. In reality, Chinese drone exports to the US are predominantly used for civilian purposes such as agriculture, equipment inspection, and film and entertainment.

He further elaborated that the US measures overstretch the concept of national security, apply differentiated tariff rates to trading partners, and discriminatively target Chinese products. These actions severely harm the interests of Chinese enterprises, disrupt the cooperative order of the global drone supply chain, and further undermine a fair competitive market environment. China firmly opposes these measures and urges the US to immediately revoke the relevant Section 232 tariffs.