BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – The Ministry of Commerce of China announced a tightening of export regulations for specific drones and related technologies destined for the United States on August 5. This action is part of a broader set of countermeasures affecting American companies, product certification procedures, and imported office equipment. Exporters are now required to obtain approval for each shipment involving controlled drones, key components, or associated technologies. The new order operates within China’s existing framework for dual-use items and does not prohibit all drone exports to the US.
The revised process eliminates simplified licensing options for drone shipments to US clients. Chinese authorities will evaluate the product, buyer, end user, and declared purpose before granting an export license. Current restrictions already cover some drone engines, sensors, communications systems, and equipment used against unmanned aircraft. Additionally, China bans companies from supplying civilian drones for military applications. The recent directive introduces a more rigorous review process specifically for controlled products and technologies sent to the US market.
In addition, China imposed restrictions on dealings with seven US organizations through separate directives. Six entities include Applied DNA Sciences, Stratum Reservoir, Altana Technologies, the Responsible Business Alliance, Verité Group, and Human Rights in China. Beijing claimed these groups supported American restrictions related to allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang. Another measure targeted Compliance Testing LLC, an Arizona-based firm that assesses communications products. Chinese authorities stated that it aided Federal Communications Commission actions involving Chinese technology companies.
Export controls span multiple sectors
The package also initiated a national security review of imported printers, copiers, and multifunction office machines. This investigation concerns products using foreign-developed operating systems, drivers, or embedded software. China’s Ministry of Commerce noted officials will analyze import levels, domestic demand, supply reliance, and security considerations. The review process may involve questionnaires, hearings, facility visits, or technical assessments. The process can last up to 12 months, with extensions permitted under certain circumstances.
China also amended inspection procedures for its mandatory product certification program. The State Administration for Market Regulation now prohibits designated Chinese certification bodies from assigning follow-up factory inspections to US-based organizations. These inspections are vital for maintaining valid certifications for products sold in China. Manufacturers must now coordinate with other approved providers for factory assessments. Existing certificates remain unaffected, and this change does not prevent all American goods from entering China.
Response to recent US regulatory measures
Beijing connected these countermeasures to recent actions taken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC has restricted approvals for certain new foreign-made drones and their essential parts entering the US. Meanwhile, US authorities increased enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, adding 43 Chinese entities to the law’s enforcement list on July 31. Goods linked to these entities are presumed to be restricted, effectively blocking their entry into the US market in most cases.
The Chinese government described its actions as proportional and urged Washington to lift the restrictions announced. All new drone licensing rules, entity limitations, and certification adjustments took effect on August 5, with the investigation into office equipment also commencing on the same day. None of these measures single out a specific Chinese drone manufacturer nor completely ban all drone sales to American buyers. Instead, the focus remains on controlled exports, selected US organizations, and foreign software integrated into imported office equipment.