President Donald Trump is preparing sweeping new restrictions on Chinese-made drones and heavy-duty vehicles, citing escalating national security risks from Beijing’s infiltration of U.S. technology and infrastructure.
According to the Commerce Department, the administration is drafting regulations targeting drones and vehicles over 10,000 pounds from China and other adversarial nations. These new rules—expected to be unveiled this month—would mirror earlier actions taken against Chinese cars and trucks and are part of a broader effort to protect America’s critical industries and digital infrastructure.
While exact details of the new restrictions are still under wraps, Commerce officials confirmed they would address vulnerabilities tied to drone communications, onboard software, flight systems, data storage, and other embedded technologies that could be exploited by foreign adversaries.
Chinese companies, led by DJI, dominate America’s commercial drone market—accounting for the majority of units in use. Critics have long warned that these drones, and their internal software, pose serious risks due to potential data exfiltration, backdoor surveillance, and supply chain sabotage.
President Trump has already signed multiple executive orders this year aimed at boosting domestic drone manufacturing and closing loopholes exploited by foreign tech firms. In June, Trump issued a directive to fortify U.S. defenses against hostile drone operations. That followed a December law signed by his predecessor that laid groundwork for a future ban on DJI and Autel drone models.
The heavy vehicle restrictions come on the heels of earlier Trump-era investigations into Chinese vehicle imports. These probes, launched by the Commerce Department in July and April, examined the security risks posed by foreign vehicle hardware and software systems. Those investigations could soon lead to steep tariffs or outright bans on imports.
President Trump’s national security team has argued that foreign-controlled vehicles with embedded communications tech—whether they’re on roads or in the skies—present unacceptable threats to American infrastructure, military logistics, and civil society.
The Commerce Department reiterated that the coming rules are aligned with the administration’s broader strategy to decouple critical technologies from hostile nations and restore American industrial self-reliance.
These new moves are expected to be part of a comprehensive crackdown aimed not just at China, but any foreign power deemed a national security threat. President Trump’s message remains clear: the United States will no longer tolerate adversaries using American markets as a backdoor to collect data, map infrastructure, or undermine national defense.
The post U.S. Plans Restrictions On Chinese Drones And Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Citing National Security appeared first on Real News Now.
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