US-China ‘Lose-Lose’? New Drone Tariffs Bite.

New US tariffs of up to 100 percent on imported drones will hurt both Washington and Beijing, analysts say, deepening the tech and trade rift between the two superpowers. The levies, announced Thursday, will make it harder for manufacturers to move production to third countries. Supply chains in those regions are already strained by earlier trade restrictions from both sides. The move targets a technology that is now central to the US-China rivalry. Analysts describe the expected outcome as a “lose-lose” for both nations, as the measures raise costs and disrupt global manufacturing plans. The new duties add another layer of uncertainty for companies trying to diversify their supply chains away from China. Previous tariffs have already pushed some firms to relocate, but the latest action complicates those efforts further.