Trump orders could end Chinese drone sales in the U.S.

The Washington Post: The White House is finalizing multiple executive orders on drones that could lead to Chinese companies being barred from selling new models in the United States, potentially upending the consumer drone market while escalating the growing conflict between the U.S. and China over technology and trade.

The draft orders, which President Donald Trump is expected to sign as early as next week, also call on the federal government to invest in the U.S. domestic drone industry, which has struggled to compete with the Chinese drone makers that currently dominate, people familiar with the matter said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the orders are still being finalized.

The new policies also would seek to update federal regulations on where commercial drones can be legally flown after unauthorized incursions over U.S. military bases in recent years, the people said. Politico first reported on the orders Friday

The draft orders cover commercially used drones, which tend to be smaller than the huge unmanned craft that the U.S. military and the CIA operate.

The popularity of Chinese-made drones in the U.S. has been a long-running concern for the national security community, with some politicians trying to ban them outright. The executive order would direct the U.S. intelligence community to accelerate reviews of whether Chinese drone makers DJI and Autel are national security risks, a determination that Congress in late 2024 mandated to be made.

If the reviews find that the drones do pose a national security risk, Chinese companies could be subject to new licensing requirements that would effectively block them from selling future models of their drones in the U.S., according to two people familiar with draft versions of the orders.