The compromise House-Senate text of a must-pass annual defense bill drops an earlier measure that could have led to a ban on Chinese drones.
An earlier version of the bill that passed the House in September had included language to assess the national security risks from drones made by China’s DJI Technologies and Autel Robotics. If the probe wasn’t completed in a year, import restrictions would have kicked in.
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House and Senate leadership and respective authorizing committees this weekend finalized a compromise version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act.
Some senators, including Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., were concerned about the implications of restricting U.S. farmers’ and other industries’ access to low-cost drones.
“It's important that we be vigilant and develop our own manufacturing capabilities here,” Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., told Agri-Pulse recently. Moolenaar chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
“I would encourage our farmers to support the home team and recognize that we have economic interests, but also national security interests,” he said.
