House Republicans propose to boost tariffs on Chinese-made drones

House Republicans Propose Legislation on Chinese Drones:

• House Republicans propose a bill to increase U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made drones by 30% and ban imports with critical Chinese components by 2030.
• The legislation aims to boost U.S. drone manufacturers' competitiveness and establish a grant program for purchasing American-made drones.
• The proposal suggests an initial 30% tariff hike on Chinese drones, followed by a 5% annual increase, sponsored by Representative Elise Stefanik and House China Committee select chair John Moolennar.

Bipartisan Concerns Over Chinese Drone Imports:

• Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers urge higher tariffs on Chinese drones and incentives for domestic drone production.
• Lawmakers express concerns over the dominance of Chinese drone companies in the U.S. market, including DJI and Autel.
• Calls for immediate action against Chinese drone makers due to insufficient tariffs and market control.

Responses from Chinese Drone Companies:

• DJI opposes restrictions based on country of origin and emphasizes compliance with data privacy laws in the U.S. and globally.
• Lawmakers previously sought investigations and potential sanctions on Autel Robotics, pushing for bans on Chinese drone purchases by the U.S. government.

Legislative Restrictions on Chinese Drones:

• Congress banned the Pentagon from procuring or using Chinese drones and components in 2019.
• New aviation legislation set for approval restricts the Transportation Department from buying or funding Chinese drones but allows exemptions in specific cases.