US Department of Commerce lifts planned crackdown on Chinese drones, including DJI — company gets reprieve ahead of Xi-Trump meeting in April, but the FCC ban still stands

(Image credit: DJI)

The U.S. Department of Commerce has stated that it is withdrawing its proposal to the White House to ban the import of Chinese drones into the country. According to Reuters, this move comes amid the thawing of relations between the United States and China, ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April of this year. This might sound like good news for the beleaguered drone maker, but it seems that the FCC ban on brand new foreign-made drones still stands.

The Commerce Department has previously recommended restricting the import of Chinese-made drones, submitting the plan to do so to the White House in October. While the agency has already retracted its proposal, the company is still not in the clear when it comes to its future. That’s because while it may seem that the Department of Commerce and FCC bans are one and the same, they are actually different restrictions. The Commerce ban focuses on the import of these drones, while the FCC is preventing the company from receiving equipment authorization. Even though the latter does not necessarily control the import of these devices, FCC certification is still a requirement before they can enter the United States.

Aside from moves by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Commerce, other agencies and government branches are also taking action against DJI. The Department of Defense has labeled it as a “Chinese Military Company,” with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia siding with the U.S. agency, despite the court saying that it “affirmatively rejected most of DoD’s allegations” and that there is “no basis” for the claim “that DJI is owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.” Congress has also taken steps to ban the company in 2024, although it was able to get a one-year extension to prove that it does not pose a national security risk.

All the recent moves will not affect current and existing drones, so DJI owners don’t need to worry that their drones will stop working. However, it will prevent the company from bringing in and selling new products in the U.S., including components, meaning users won’t be able to maintain and replace their drones.

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Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.