Businesses Across the U.S. Rely on These Drones. They Might Be Banned.

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/business/dji-chinese-drones-ban.html

https://archive.ph/klC0R

Businesses Across the U.S. Rely on These Drones. They Might Be Banned.
Farmers, builders and police officers use drones made by DJI, a Chinese company. President Trump and his allies want to stop all imports.
By Farah Stockman
Sept. 8, 2025 Updated 12:44 p.m. ET


DJI drones are favored by farmers as they save weeks of labor by spraying seeds, fertilizer and fungicide from the sky. Allison Joyce/Associated Press

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DJI, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial and industrial drones, is on the verge of being banned in the United States by federal lawmakers who accuse the company of a variety of infractions, including using forced labor, benefiting from unfair subsidies and being a cybersecurity threat.

The looming ban is part of a push to decouple the U.S. economy from China’s. It comes as artificial intelligence is transforming what drones can do, and as American manufacturers struggle to get a share of a growing market. DJI commands roughly 75 percent of the consumer market globally and is known for making drones that buyers say are affordable, easy to use and full of bleeding-edge features that save time and money.

Construction companies use specialized DJI drones to monitor the progress of skyscrapers and submit automatic reports. Mining companies use DJI drones to calculate the output of mines. Land surveyors use drones with high-quality lenses to create detailed maps of terrain. Police officers use thermal drones to find lost children and fleeing suspects.

Mr. Moss earns a living as an aerial photographer and videographer based in Colorado, and also makes maps for surveying companies. He has invested tens of thousands of dollars in DJI drones that can change lenses and apertures in midair, he said, and is now having difficulty getting them serviced.

“Nobody seems to be saying: ‘What are we doing to this industry? To the people who fly or sell drones for a living?’” Mr. Moss said. DJI sells an industrial-grade mapping drone for about $6,500, while American companies can charge as much as $35,000 for a similar product, he said.

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[progressoid]

1. But TicTok is ok.

[newdeal2]

2. They didn't pay the bribe

That’s all this is about. Trump doesn’t care about human rights or security.

[Initech]

3. Please stop calling him President Trump. Illegal Resident Felon Trump sounds better.