Trump prepares to attack everything made-in-China

Made-in-China drone ban
Ramping up restrictions
Existing measures
Ditching an irresponsible strategy
Harvesting data
Trump pins hopes on Skydio
Punishing tariffs
China's response
The world's factory
Curtailing access
Delicate balance
Made-in-China drone ban

US President Donald Trump plans to introduce bans on the use of drones made in China. According to France24, Trump argues that these devices pose a risk to national security through possible espionage maneuvers and also undermine fair competition in the technological field.

Ramping up restrictions

Most commercial drones sold in the United States are manufactured in China, and there are fears that with Trump's arrival at the White House, restrictions on these small unmanned aircraft will increase as part of the trade war between the two giants.

 

Existing measures

The US Congress already banned the purchase of Chinese drones by federal agencies in December 2024, albeit with some exceptions. In addition, several states have banned publicly funded programs from using drones of Chinese origin, Infobae reports.

Ditching an irresponsible strategy

“It is strategically irresponsible to allow communist China to be our drone factory,” argued Elise Stefanik, who was chosen by Trump to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Infobae reports.

Harvesting data

The Trump administration fears that Chinese drones could act as spy balloons used to gather data or carry harmful payloads across the United States, posing a risk to military bases and key infrastructure.

Trump pins hopes on Skydio

Skydio is the largest US drone manufacturer based in San Mateo, California. It is Trump's big hope for reducing the industry's dependence on Chinese supply chains. Skydio's customers include the US military, The New York Times reports.

 

Punishing tariffs

Following Trump's campaign promises to impose crippling tariffs on China, Xi Jinping's government has decided to cut off Skydio's access to essential battery supplies, forcing it to look for new suppliers. Unwilling to sit idly by, Beijing is mounting a counterattack.

China's response

"This undermines the security and stability of global production and supply chain. We will take all relevant measures to firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests," the Chinese government's foreign minister, Wang Yi, warned Trump, Infobae reports.

The world's factory

In its role as the world's factory, China has been preparing for Trump's onslaught since the President-elect's first term, drafting laws similar to those in the United States, including blacklisting "unreliable entities" and depriving American companies of critical resources.

Curtailing access

Xi Jinping wants to curb global access to critical materials, with China being the country harboring the world's largest reserves, such as rare earth elements. This is a group of chemical elements used to manufacture technological products and weapons. They are, for example, essential for mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Delicate balance

The trade war between China and the United States shows no signs of stopping, but both countries must be cautious. If China goes too far in penalizing foreign companies, it could scare away investors. Moreover, Chinese companies still need what the United States offers, such as microchips.

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