Unable to compete, they begin to suppress: The White House is drafting a new executive order that may lead to the ban of new Chinese drones in the U.S.

According to reports by The Washington Post, the U.S. White House is finalizing several executive orders regarding drone issues, which may result in Chinese companies being prohibited from selling new models in the U.S., potentially disrupting the local consumer drone market and further escalating the increasingly tense technological and trade conflicts between the U.S. and China. According to insiders, President Trump is expected to sign the draft executive orders as early as next week. The draft also calls for investment by the U.S. federal government in the domestic drone industry.

American drone companies have been competing with dominant Chinese drone manufacturers, but progress has been slow. Due to the fact that the relevant executive orders are still in the final stages of formulation, insiders requested anonymity.

Insiders stated that, following unauthorized incidents at U.S. military bases in recent years, the new policy will seek to update the federal government's regulations on legal flight locations for commercial drones. Politico reported these plans for the executive orders on Friday.

The draft covers commercial drones, which are generally smaller than large drones operated by the U.S. military and intelligence agencies. The popularity of Made-in-China drones in the U.S. has long been a concern for the U.S. national security community, with some politicians attempting to completely ban them.

This executive order will direct the U.S. intelligence community to accelerate its review of whether DJI and Autel, two Chinese drone manufacturers, pose a national security risk, as mandated by Congress by the end of 2024.

U.S.-made drones have struggled to compete with products made in China due to China's vast and technologically advanced consumer drone industry. Chinese companies, especially DJI, have driven some American manufacturers out of the market with their cost-effective yet highly functional drones, which are sold to users ranging from beginners to professional search-and-rescue teams or oil and gas exploration personnel.

According to insiders, these executive orders include provisions instructing the federal government to more actively support American drone manufacturers. Those familiar with the draft documents said the documents are also expected to make it easier for commercial drones to fly at greater distances - beyond the operator's line of sight.

The draft may also enforce a Federal Aviation Administration regulation allowing owners of private facilities such as railways, oil and gas installations, and amusement parks to request the agency to restrict commercial drone flights over their properties. The use of drones over military bases and other national security infrastructure is already restricted. The White House declined to comment before any executive order is finalized. Representatives of DJI and Autel did not respond to requests for comment.

In 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense banned the military from using Chinese drones, reducing competition for military sales contracts and providing a lifeline for American drone manufacturers. However, in various parts of the U.S., DJI's drones have helped law enforcement agencies with policing, assisted mountain rescue teams in searching for lost hikers, and helped insurance companies assess flood situations.

Some states, including Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, have banned the sale of Chinese drones to police departments. In December 2024, the U.S. Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, ordering an unspecified national security agency to review DJI and Autel to determine if their technology poses an "unacceptable national security risk".

If the review is not completed within one year after the bill is passed, DJI and Autel will automatically be prohibited from obtaining licenses for new versions of their wireless transmitters from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, effectively making it illegal for them to sell in the U.S. The proposed new executive order from the White House will direct the government to expedite these decisions rather than waiting.

Advocates for the U.S. drone industry claim that American companies are making rapid technological advancements, capable of offering all the products provided by DJI and other Chinese companies. Executives in the U.S. drone industry and pro-China hawks in Congress believe that the importance of small drones in modern warfare has been proven on the Ukrainian battlefield, meaning the U.S. cannot afford the consequences of a weak domestic drone manufacturing sector.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833660379369545/

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