Tariffs and drones...

[Cometstorm]

Just wondering if our hobby will be affected...

 

[N017RW]

Well, until they’re implemented it would be just conjecture.

 

[Raptorman0909]

Probably not high on the list given the lack of US competition and the overall smallish total sales. I'm not saying it won't be but I'd argue it's unlikely unless they go full trade war and everything is on the table. That would be unlikely given the clout US business has in DC and the fact the the majority of R's and D's in DC are bought and paid for by big business and the wealthy. They know where there bread is buttered and are unlikely to permit Trump going all out with a trade war.

At this point there's a kind of 'feeling each other out' on where the line is. Technically, China would have far more to lose given there huge trade surplus with the US, but the US trade to China is not insignificant and China know which buttons to push to maximize the pressure on Trump to stay behind the line, where ever that line is...


Brian

 

[Meta4]

Just wondering if our hobby will be affected...

So far nothing's definite.
Last month the United States Trade Representative's office announced a list of 1300 mainly non-consumer products that would be hit by increased tariffs, representing about $US50 billion of estimated 2018 imports.
The list was developed using a computer algorithm designed to choose products that would inflict maximum pain on Chinese exporters, but limit the damage to US consumers.
Here's the list
https://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/USTRlistofproducts04032018.pdf
A word search doesn't find the word drone but perhaps it would fall under this category:

88022000 Airplanes and other powered aircraft, nesoi, with an unladen weight not over 2,000kg ??
​

Here are a few categories look like they might have an effect (there may be more but reading the list put me to sleep):
85065000 Lithium primary cells and primary batteries
85269250 Radio remote control apparatus other than for video game consoles
85279915 Radio receivers, NESOI
85291040 Radar, radio navigational aid and radio remote control antennas and antenna reflectors, and parts suitable for use therewith
85299016 Printed circuit assemblies which are subassemblies of radar, radio nav. aid or remote control apparatus, of 2 or more parts joined together
85299019 Printed circuit assemblies, nesi, for radar, radio navigational aid or radio remote control apparatus

On top of all that ...
More recently, President Trump unexpectedly suggested imposing extra trade tariffs on goods shipped from China to the US – on top of the $50bn worth of tariffs announced last month.
So the short answer is no-one knows what's happening or what it will affect.

ps ... for anyone wondering, NESOI means: not elsewhere specified or indicated