Well this would be step one to try to motivate some US company to start manufacturing. Then once it ramps up they can step in with banning existing stuff without causing too much disruption.

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palmotea 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Exactly, it's about supply chains. Banning existing drones with no replacements on offer would be unnecessarily disruptive.

Though the US should probably just learn from China: Does DJI want to sell in the US? Setup a 50-50 JV with domestic production, skill and technology transfers, or go away.

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zarzavat 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Wouldn't you want the opposite? Once domestic production ramps up you gradually lift import restrictions to create more competition. I guess that's if the intention is to improve the domestic market in the national interest, rather than to just make people rich.

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flessner 9 hours ago | parent [-]

That is exactly what you never want to do under protectionist policies. Domestic producers are shielded from Chinese competitors. This means they are under less pressure to reduce prices and innovate.

I wouldn't read too much into the national security justification. It's a political argument to an economic policy.

	▲	jepj57 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The national security justification is that we need expertise building/designing drones. We won't get that if we allow China to out-compete domestic manufacturers.

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8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

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