The expected executive orders could lead to a ban on the sale of new Chinese drones in the U.S. and block Americans from importing those products.
President Trump is expected to sign multiple executive orders that amount to an effective ban on Chinese drones in the U.S. in the coming days, accelerating Washington’s crackdown on a company that makes products popular with consumers but has worrying ties to Beijing.
Shenzhen DJI Technology is the world’s leading drone manufacturer, favored by photographers and other hobbyists, but its ties to the Chinese Communist Party’s military have landed it on U.S. blacklists.
The expected executive orders could lead to a ban on the sale of new Chinese drones in the U.S. and block Americans from importing those products, an industry source told National Review. The source cautioned that the orders have not been finalized are still likely subject to change.
One of them would expedite the addition of Chinese drone companies to the Federal Communications Commission’s covered list, thus blocking companies from selling new products in America. Another expected order would direct the Commerce Department to issue new export controls targeting the companies.
The Washington Post previously reported on the possible orders.
U.S. officials and national security experts have long been concerned that the Chinese authorities could collect data from, and even remotely control, DJI products in the U.S.
These concerns have been heightened this month, with Ukraine’s use of modified consumer quadcopter drones in its surprise attack on Russian strategic bombers from inside the country. Some military analysts worry that U.S. adversaries could replicate that strategy to sabotage American jets in a future conflict.
The Pentagon, citing national security concerns, stopped using DJI products in 2018.
The Pentagon added DJI to its list of Chinese military companies in 2022, citing its ties to the People’s Liberation Army. DJI disputes that designation as incorrect and hired former attorney general Loretta Lynch last year to sue the Defense Department on its behalf.
Other U.S. blacklist designations targeting DJI also block Americans from selling components to DJI and investing in the company.
Washington is also concerned about Autel Robotics, with members of Congress warning that it is also connected to China’s military. The Pentagon added the company to its Chinese military company list last year.
DJI’s lobbyists have fought off multiple proposals to restrict the company’s footprint in the U.S., disclosing spending worth millions of dollars on lobbying efforts targeting Congress and the executive branch. Some local law enforcement agencies are staunch proponents of DJI products, which they use in their daily operations and have featured in lobbying campaigns.
While Trump is engaging the Chinese government in contentious trade negotiations and seeking a phone call with general secretary Xi Jinping, his administration has taken a series of tough steps countering Beijing in recent weeks.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. will be aggressively revoking student visas issued to certain Chinese nationals. The Commerce Department enacted new bans on Huawei chips that are used to power artificial intelligence models and the export of aircraft engines that China has used in its indigenous C919 airplane.