US House Votes to Ban New DJI Drones as ‘China Week’ Begins, Reports Reuters

By David Shepardson and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Monday to prohibit new drones from the Chinese manufacturer DJI from operating within the United States. This decision is part of a broader set of measures targeting China that lawmakers are examining this week.

The proposed legislation, which must still pass the U.S. Senate to become law, would prevent DJI products from being used on U.S. communications infrastructure. However, it would not affect the operation of existing DJI drones already in the country.

Concerns have been frequently raised by lawmakers about the national security risks associated with DJI drones, a claim the company firmly denies.

“With this action, Congress will ensure that future versions of DJI drones cannot be imported, marketed, or sold in the United States,” stated Representative Frank Pallone, the leading Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

DJI, which holds a significant share of the U.S. drone market, opposes the bill, arguing that it limits the options available to U.S. drone operators based solely on the origin of the equipment.

The U.S. Congress has consistently voted to impose restrictions on Chinese technology and, in April, required ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to divest its U.S. assets by January 19.

Additionally, another bill approved on Monday would prevent the Homeland Security Department from purchasing batteries from six Chinese companies, including CATL.

Another piece of legislation seeks to deter China from potentially invading or blockading Taiwan. This includes measures to publish the assets of senior Chinese leaders and restrict them and their families from accessing the U.S. financial system should Beijing take aggressive actions against Taiwan.

The House is also expected to vote later this week on stricter rules regarding U.S. electric vehicle tax credits that involve Chinese components.

In January, new regulations were implemented to limit Chinese content in batteries eligible for EV tax credits, and the new House bill aims to tighten those restrictions.

With less than two months remaining before the 2024 presidential and congressional elections, it remains uncertain whether any China-related legislation will be enacted this year.