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On Monday, the Trump administration\u2019s Federal Communications Commission banned all new foreign-made drone models from distribution in the U.S., citing \u201cnational security concerns.\u201d Americans who already own older foreign drone models will still be able to use those products, the government said. <\/p>\n
In a fact sheet<\/a> published Monday, the FCC claimed that \u201ccriminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists\u201d could use drones \u201cto present new and serious threats to our homeland.\u201d As a result, the agency said that it had updated its Covered List<\/a> \u2014 which is a list of products that have been \u201cdeemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security\u201d of the country \u2014 to include all \u201cUAS and UAS critical components produced abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n The FCC\u2019s chairman, Brendan Carr, said Monday that he approved of the policy. \u201cI welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign drones and related components, which pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC\u2019s Covered List,\u201d Carr said. \u201cFollowing President Trump\u2019s leadership, the FCC will work closely with U.S. drone makers to unleash American drone dominance.\u201d<\/p>\n The new rule will obviously impact many different companies, but it is destined to strike a blow against Chinese drone maker DJI, which is currently considered the dominant player<\/a> in drone sales globally. Indeed, DJI is considered to be one of the most popular drone brands<\/a> for American consumers.<\/p>\n When reached for comment by TechCrunch, DJI said it disapproved of the decision. \u201cDJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s action today to add foreign\u2011made drones to the Covered List. While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.\u201d<\/p>\n The company, which said that it remained committed to the U.S. market, continued: \u201cAs the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all US consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so. DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout his multiple presidential administrations, Trump has repeatedly played hardball<\/a> with Chinese companies. His administration laid the groundwork for the new drone ban with an executive order<\/a> passed in June that sought to boost the production<\/a> of U.S.-made drones and thus foster a \u201cstrong and secure domestic drone sector,\u201d while also securing \u201cthe United States drone supply chain against foreign control or exploitation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n