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Global Trade & Sanctions LawPublished on:
BIS Eases Export Controls on Certain UAVs: Key Takeaways from the August 13 Final Rule
On August 13, 2026, the Administration took two significant and complementary actions reshaping the regulatory landscape for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to increase U.S. domestic production.
First, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule further easing export controls on certain UAVs and related hardware, technology and software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This action substantially relaxes EAR controls on ordinary civilian and commercial drones, while retaining controls for military-designed systems, long-range missile-capable UAVs, drones incorporating sensitive equipment, and drones destined for prohibited end users or end uses. This will make it easier for U.S. UAVs to compete abroad and has the potential of lowering their costs to both the domestic and international markets by increasing sales opportunities.
