Since October 2024, DJI — the global leader in consumer drones — has encountered a major roadblock: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining shipments at ports, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
That act enables CBP to presume goods “wholly or in part” from China’s Xinjiang region involve forced labor, barring them unless proven otherwise. DJI firmly disputes any forced‑labor ties, insisting production is based in Shenzhen or Malaysia — never Xinjiang — and emphasising its absence from the UFLPA Entity List.
The impact on availability is stark: DJI’s US online store lists all models as “sold out,” and retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama report critically low inventory. A range of models remain affected — from the compact Mavic 4 Pro never officially launched in America due to customs uncertainty!
Drone pilots confirm the issue spans from customs offices in Kentucky to inconsistent enforcement across ports. While smaller shipments sometimes slip through, larger consignments are routinely snagged.
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DJI US customs crisis: Not a ban, but a policy tangle
DJI clarifies that this isn’t a ban; it’s a “customs-related misunderstanding.” The CBP, enforcing UFLPA, interprets even partial Chinese origin as grounds to withhold goods. DJI has mobilized documentation — supply‑chain audits, ISO 45001 certification, and CSR frameworks aligned with UN and OECD standards — to prove product provenance. Notably, DJI is not on the UFLPA Entity List.
Reportedly, the issue affects mostly drones, though batteries and electronics are sometimes held too. The Verge also points to broader geopolitical drivers — tariffs, export controls, and safety concerns — though DJI emphasizes the core issue is human‑rights-related, not security-based.
Legislative tensions compound the problem. Congress is reviewing Chinese drone use under the Countering CCP Drones Act; meanwhile, the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a federal security audit of DJI — and a “Covered List” FCC ban — by December 23, 2025. The Commerce Department is also evaluating broader restrictions on Chinese drones and components.
Despite intense scrutiny, no national ban is in place. DJI drones remain legal to own and fly in the US. It’s simply become dramatically harder to buy them.
DJI’s October 2024 statement termed the congestion a “misunderstanding” under the UFLPA, assuring customers that shipments are legal and needs no legislative linkage. The July 2025 update reiterates the issue and calls on US customers to petition CBP via the Drone Advocacy Alliance, to “urge release of compliant shipments”.
DJI is aware of the challenges our customers have been facing in obtaining some of our products and services in the US market. We remain firmly committed to our US customers and are actively exploring all avenues of engagement with the US Government to demonstrate our compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The available evidence clearly supports DJI’s compliance, and we believe that — if judged on its merits — this matter should be resolved promptly.
For now, DJI remains tethered at the border. US drone pilots and professionals are caught in a standoff: existing drones fly freely, but new ones — and flagship models — are stalled outside. DJI insists that transparency and documentation will win the day. But unless policy starts catching up with evidence, US airspace may remain surprisingly grounded.
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