Senate Bill Seeks to Ease Restrictions on Drone Exports
Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; and John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill July 23 aimed at making it easier for American companies to sell unmanned aircraft to U.S. allies and partners.
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The Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act, or Lead Act, would require that drones face the same export controls as manned aircraft and no longer be subject to the tight restrictions of the multilateral Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
Cotton said the current restrictions on unmanned aircraft exports “are outdated and put American companies at a disadvantage, all while ceding the market to Communist China," which is not a member of the MTCR. The bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April directing his administration to reevaluate restrictions the MTCR imposes on certain systems, including drones (see 2504100009).