DJI Claims US Customs is Blocking Drone Imports

DJI informed The Verge that it is currently facing restrictions on importing its drones into the United States, which has led to the decision not to sell its latest consumer drone, the Air 3S, through retail channels. According to DJI, a customs-related issue is affecting its ability to import certain drones into the country.

The company stated that these import restrictions are not due to a sudden ban on DJI drones by the United States but are instead part of a broader initiative by the Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize product origins, particularly for Chinese-made drones.

Recently, DJI sent a letter to its distributors suggesting a reason for these restrictions. The letter indicated that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is using the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as grounds to block some imports. DJI claims in the letter, which has circulated on various drone websites and Reddit, that it does not use forced labor in its drone manufacturing process. A DJI spokesperson, Daisy Kong, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Verge.

In an official blog post, DJI referred to the situation as a "misunderstanding," stating that it is providing documentation to U.S. Customs to demonstrate compliance with U.S. law and international standards. The documentation asserts that DJI does not manufacture products in Xinjiang, China, where Uyghurs have faced detention and that their supply chain has been audited by U.S. retailers. DJI claims that all its products are manufactured in Shenzhen, China, or Malaysia.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not responded to requests for comment on this issue.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that could effectively ban DJI drones from being imported into the U.S., though the Senate would also need to pass the bill. The Senate had initially removed the DJI ban from its version of the must-pass 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, although it was later reintroduced as an amendment and may still be included in the final bill.

DJI mentioned that this customs-related issue has primarily impacted its enterprise and agricultural drones but now also limits the offering of the Air 3S to U.S. customers beyond sales through DJI.com. The company stated that it is actively working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to resolve the matter and is hopeful for a swift resolution.

The U.S. government has previously imposed restrictions on DJI drones, but these have not prevented purchases by consumers or usage by individual pilots. Mainly, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s "entity list" prohibits U.S. companies from exporting technology to DJI, and certain government entities have been restricted from buying new DJI drones.

Should Congress move forward with a ban on DJI imports, existing users may still be able to operate their drones, but new devices featuring radios could not be authorized by the FCC, potentially halting all imports.

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