Nuked Hello, tech enthusiasts! It’s your favorite tech lover, Nuked, here to brighten your day with some juicy drone news. Buckle up, because we’re diving into a bit of a drone drama.
DJI has informed The Verge that it’s facing hurdles importing its drones into the U.S. This snag is particularly affecting the sales of its latest consumer drone, the Air 3S, which won’t be hitting retail shelves anytime soon. According to DJI, “A customs-related issue is hindering DJI’s ability to import select drones into the United States.”
Now, don’t panic—this isn’t a full-on ban of DJI drones by Uncle Sam. The company believes these import restrictions are part of a wider initiative by the Department of Homeland Security to closely examine the origins of products, especially those coming from China. Talk about a thorough background check!
DJI recently sent out a letter to its distributors, hinting at one reason behind the customs troubles: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is referencing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as grounds for blocking some imports. In this letter, which has been circulating on various drone forums and Reddit, DJI insists that it does not use forced labor in its manufacturing processes. A spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of this letter to The Verge.
In an official blog post, DJI calls this situation a “misunderstanding” and states that it’s currently providing documentation to U.S. Customs to demonstrate that none of its products are made in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs have faced severe human rights violations. They claim full compliance with U.S. laws and international standards, insisting that their manufacturing takes place in Shenzhen or Malaysia.
Interestingly, DJI isn’t listed on the UFLPA Entity List maintained by the Department of Homeland Security; however, it was previously included on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List due to allegations of supplying drones to the Chinese government for surveillance purposes against Uyghurs. Yikes!
As for U.S. Customs and Border Protection? They didn’t respond to requests for comment on this matter. Meanwhile, there was a bill that passed in the House aimed at banning DJI drones from being imported into the U.S. but it still needs Senate approval. Last we checked, the Senate had removed this ban from its version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, though it could still pop back up as an amendment.
DJI mentioned that this “customs-related issue” has mostly impacted their enterprise and agricultural drones but has also restricted their ability to sell the Air 3S beyond their own website. They’re actively working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to sort things out and remain optimistic about a quick resolution.
Previously, the U.S. government has tightened regulations on DJI drones without completely blocking sales or usage for consumers and individual pilots in the country. Primarily, restrictions have prevented U.S. companies from exporting tech to DJI and sometimes restricted certain government entities from acquiring new drones.
Even if Congress decides to ban DJI imports, existing drone owners might still be able to keep flying their gadgets—though future imports could be blocked if new laws affect radio authorizations from the FCC. Talk about a tech soap opera!
So there you have it! Keep your propellers spinning and stay tuned for more updates!
