US bans import of foreign-made drones, China responds
US bans import of foreign-made drones (photo: Getty Images)
The US Federal Communications Commission has banned the import of all uncrewed aerial vehicles, critically essential components for them, as well as all communications and video surveillance equipment, the commission's website reports.
The ban will primarily affect Chinese manufacturers such as SZ DJI Technology and Autel Robotics.
The US Department of Defense has long called for a ban on drones made by the Chinese company DJI. The military claims that the Chinese Communist Party could gain access to information collected during their use. The US Army banned service members from using DJI drones back in 2017.
DJI accounts for between 70% and 90% of drones used in the United States for commercial purposes. Sources cited by the newspaper note that Chinese drones have no American alternatives, either in terms of price or technical specifications.
Private users and companies that had been expecting the ban have recently spent significant sums on purchasing aircraft, batteries, and spare parts to stock up on Chinese equipment.
China's reaction
A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, said that the US side should correct its erroneous actions and ensure a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises.
China's Ministry of Commerce expressed a similar position. A ministry representative called on the United States to immediately lift the Federal Communications Commission ban on issuing permits for the import and sale of new types of DJI drones.
Several weeks ago, it became known that the Trump administration had suspended plans to impose sanctions on China's Ministry of State Security. They were planned due to espionage concerns but were not implemented, as such measures could disrupt the trade truce between the countries.
China suspended its ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony, superhard materials, and other rare-earth metals, which had been prohibited for export since December 2024.
On November 6, China decided to suspend for one year restrictions on the supply of dual-use goods to 31 American companies, mainly in the defense and aerospace sectors.
