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The Trump administration is reportedly gearing up to introduce executive orders aimed at restricting the sales of Chinese drones from companies like DJI and Autel in the United States. According to The Washington Post, these new directives could be signed as early as this week. Rather than imposing an outright ban, the orders will require US intelligence agencies to expedite their existing reviews on whether these Chinese drone manufacturers pose national security risks.

In addition to the reviews, the executive orders are expected to mandate federal investments in the US domestic drone industry. This move could potentially shift more business towards American drone manufacturers, such as Skydio, which is based in Silicon Valley. Although DJI does not publicly disclose its sales figures, estimates suggest that its sales are significantly higher than those of Skydio.

Federal regulations regarding the legal operation of commercial drones are also set to be updated. This could be especially important for commercial drone operators, some of whom currently use DJI's popular models like the DJI Mini 4 Pro. While photography enthusiasts may find these changes unwelcoming, Lisa Ellman, co-founder and CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, believes the new regulations could bolster the US drone industry. She noted that her organization has long been advocating for such regulatory reforms.

Concerns over Chinese drones are not new, as evidenced by the actions taken last year. In 2022, the US Treasury added DJI and seven other companies to its Chinese Military-Industrial Complex list. This inclusion indicates national security concerns and prevents US-based firms from exporting technology to the listed companies. Since then, DJI has been involved in legal disputes with the US government over its inclusion on the list.

These executive orders could mark a significant shift in the landscape of the drone industry in the United States, aiming to strengthen national security while boosting domestic production capabilities.