US may ban use of Chinese drones: What is known

The US government is considering new restrictions on Chinese drones. One option is a complete ban on the use of drones from China, as announced in a statement from the US Department of Commerce, according to Reuters.

According to the department, the public has been given the opportunity to express their opinions on the issue of protecting the drone supply chain until March 4, emphasizing that threats from China and Russia “may offer our adversaries the ability to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive US data.”

Reuters highlights that China accounts for the majority of commercial drone sales in the US.

Back in September, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo stated that her department might implement restrictions similar to those that effectively ban Chinese vehicles in the US. The primary focus will be on drones with Chinese and Russian equipment, chips, and software.

Raimondo noted that she aims to finalize the rules regarding Chinese vehicles by January 20.

At the same time, last month, President Joe Biden signed a law that could ban Chinese companies DJI and Autel Robotics from selling new drone models in the US.

Restrictions

On December 10, Bloomberg reported that China is restricting the export of drone components to the US and Europe.

According to the news agency’s sources, Beijing may impose even stricter restrictions in 2025 and expand control over the export of parts.