U.S. officials are considering ramping up defenses against one of China's most ubiquitous technologies: drones. The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it is exploring a rule that could restrict Chinese drones in the United States — or ban them entirely.

The Commerce Department requested that private companies comment on the implications of the rule by March. The final decision will fall to the Trump administration.

Last month, Congress passed a bill that will ban the sale of new drones by DJI or another firm, Autel Robotics, within a year if a US security review determines they pose an “unacceptable risk” to national security. Congress previously barred the Pentagon in 2019 from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China.

The U.S. Commerce Department is evaluating new regulations that could limit or prohibit the use of Chinese-made drones, citing national security concerns. Public comments on the proposed rules are being accepted until March 4,