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.
