The United States is considering imposing new restrictions and possibly even a ban on the use of Chinese drones in the country due to national security concerns.
The U.S. Commerce Department said on Thursday it was considering new rules to protect the drone supply chain and would seek public comment on the matter by March 4.
The agency said threats from China and Russia “could enable our adversaries to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive U.S. data.”
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The final decision on new rules to restrict or ban Chinese drones will be made by the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20.
The agency's statement comes after Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in September that she was considering similar restrictions on Chinese-made drones This would effectively ban Chinese vehicles from entering the United States.
Raimondo said her department will focus on drones equipped with Chinese and Russian equipment, chips and software.
Huge American base
A potential ban on Chinese drones, such as those made by DJI, could have a significant impact on U.S. consumers, many of whom have come to rely on these devices.
China accounts for the vast majority of U.S. commercial drone sales.
According to the Associated Press Over the last month, U.S. buyers have been using Chinese drones, often from DJI, for a range of operations from spraying fertilizers and mapping roads to conducting rescue operations and preventing crime.
One drone enthusiast told the agency: “If we banned Chinese drones, a lot of the amazing things we do would be undone.”
Another said his project at Texas State University, which uses drones to analyze vegetation and uncover buried bodies, would be “deadlier than a doornail” if Chinese drones were banned.
Users interviewed by The Associated Press also said they could not see any viable alternatives to Chinese-made drones because U.S.-made drones are much more expensive and lack the features offered by their Chinese counterparts.
Meanwhile, industry experts say the U.S. government needs to focus on investing in U.S. drone manufacturing to catch up with Chinese competitors.
All eyes are on DJI Innovations
Still, Washington took a series of steps last year to crack down on Chinese drones.
Last month, President Joe Biden signed the legislation China's DJI and Autel Robotics could be banned New drone models on sale in the United States. An unspecified U.S. agency must determine within a year whether drones from DJI or Autel Robotics pose an unacceptable national security risk.
DJI, the world's largest drone maker, said it would not be able to launch new products in the United States without an agency completing the study. More than half of the total number of commercial drones.
In September, the House of Representatives voted to ban DJI’s new drones from operating in the United States.
October, DJI sues U.S. Department of Defense It added it to a list of companies suspected of working with Beijing's military, saying the designation was wrong and caused financial losses to the company.
The drone maker said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Some drones are being blocked from entering the U.S.citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Law. DJI says no forced labor is involved at any stage of its manufacturing.
U.S. lawmakers have repeatedly raised concerns that DJI drones pose data transmission, surveillance and national security risks, something the company has denied. Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from purchasing or using Chinese-made drones and parts.
- Reuters, with additional editing and input by Vishakha Saxena
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