{"text":[[{"start":8.18,"text":"President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping new tariffs on drones and their components in an effort to make US companies, law enforcement and state and local governments less reliant on Chinese drone technology."}],[{"start":20.74,"text":"The White House said it would levy 100 per cent tariffs on drones that were “particularly sensitive” for national security, including systems that weigh more than 25kg or have thermal imaging capabilities. It will put a 25 per cent tariff on drones that have a maximum take-off weight of 25kg."}],[{"start":39.3,"text":"The move is the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on Chinese drone technology. In December, the Federal Communications Commission banned imports of Chinese drones by saying it would stop providing wireless communications approval for ones from adversary nations."}],[{"start":55.82,"text":"Craig Singleton, an expert on US-China technology competition, said Thursday’s move by the White House was a “big deal” because it would reshape the commercial marketplace. He said US commercial and government customers would have to make an immediate “capital-intensive pivot” that would involve them transitioning to suppliers in the US or allied countries even if they are more expensive."}],[{"start":77.94,"text":"“It still primarily targets China, but it’s designed to stop supply-chain laundering,” said Singleton, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies."}],[{"start":86.92,"text":"He said the tariffs close a “backdoor” left by the FCC action that allowed US companies to buy “millions of Chinese components — like motors, rotors and frames — and assembl[e] them here”."}],[{"start":97.94,"text":"The White House on Thursday separately accused more than 40 countries of helping China to evade US tariffs by routing products through other countries."}],[{"start":111.24,"text":"Drones from US allies Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the EU will face a lower tariff of 15 per cent, with a 10 per cent levy applied to technology from the UK."}],[{"start":119.62,"text":"Trump said an investigation by the commerce department concluded that drones were “essential” to US national and economic security and a “key technology in modern armed conflict and are critical for present and future US military operations”."}],[{"start":133.62,"text":"The importance of drones on the battlefield has dramatically increased as Ukraine has used unmanned aerial vehicles effectively in its ongoing efforts to repel Russia."}],[{"start":143.14,"text":"Thursday’s order also authorises the commerce department to create an onshoring programme to help companies that are making new investments in drones or their components."}],[{"start":154.3,"text":"Trump’s proclamation, which is aimed at China without mentioning the country by name, comes six weeks before President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington for a summit with Trump."}],[{"start":165.88,"text":"China tightened controls this month on its own drone exports to the US in retaliation for Washington’s restrictions on Chinese tech. Beijing said exports to the US of drones, key components and related technologies would be subject to review on a “case-by-case basis”."}],[{"start":182.94,"text":"While the Trump administration has held back from imposing the kind of tough export controls the Biden administration put on China, his administration, particularly the FCC, has been quietly taking national security actions that are aimed at Beijing."}],[{"start":198.42,"text":"The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":208.26,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1786700748_3696.mp3"}