Trump ban on new foreign drones could raise prices and shrink choices

The FCC's recent ban on new foreign-made drones aims to bolster the U.S. drone industry and address national security concerns. This ban will likely increase prices for both commercial and recreational drone users due to the limited supply of advanced American-made drones and components. China currently dominates the global drone market, manufacturing around 70% to 90% of drones used in the U.S. and controlling nearly 90% of the global market. The ban will allow existing foreign-made drone models to continue being sold, but new models will be restricted. This move is expected to accelerate the development of the U.S. drone industry, though it may cause short-term pain for businesses and consumers reliant on cheaper foreign drones.