The US Federal Communications Commission said it will ban imports of all new foreign-made drone models and their critical components, including those from China’s DJI and Autel, arguing they pose unacceptable risks to US national security.
The addition to the FCC “Covered List” means that DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies will not be able to obtain the necessary FCC approval to sell new drone models or critical components in the US.
In December 2024, Congress ordered that DJI and Autel be added to the list within one year unless a security review deemed it appropriate to continue sales.
The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s struggles to crack down on Chinese-made drones in recent years. In September, the Commerce Department announced that it plans to issue rules to restrict imports of Chinese drones, which could go beyond the FCC’s action.
The FCC designation does not prohibit the importation, sale or use of any existing device model that the telecommunications regulator has previously authorized, nor does it affect previously purchased drones, the FCC said. He added that consumers can continue to legally use any drones they previously purchased.
DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, expressed disappointment over the decision to include foreign-made drones on the List of Covered Drugs. “While DJI was not included on the list, no information has been released regarding the information used by the Executive Branch to reach this decision,” the company stated.
DJI previously stated that its inclusion on the Covered Drone List would prohibit it from offering new drone models in the United States. The company sells more than half of the commercial drones in the United States.
CHINA CONDEMNS THE MEASURE
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that China opposed the United States’ overly broad interpretation of the concept of national security and the creation of discriminatory lists. He urged Washington to correct its wrong practices and provide a fair environment for Chinese companies.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce also expressed “strong opposition” on Tuesday, saying in a statement that China will take “necessary measures” to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese companies if the United States insists on its way.
The FCC said it received the results on Sunday of an interagency executive branch review convened by the White House into the risks of foreign drones, which found that imported drones and components pose security risks “given the threats of unauthorized surveillance, exfiltration of sensitive data, supply chain vulnerabilities and other potential threats to the homeland.”
The review indicated that the Pentagon could make future decisions that specific drones or classes of drones do not pose risks and remove them from the restrictions.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June that aims to reduce the United States’ dependence on Chinese drone companies.
With information from Reuters.
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