DJI, a company based in Shenzhen and known for its consumer and professional drones, is currently facing import restrictions for some of its products in the United States.
These restrictions particularly affect the Air 3S model, which will not be available for retail sale in the U.S.
The company clarified that this measure is not related to recent legislative efforts to ban Chinese drones in the U.S. Instead, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cited the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as the reason for the ban.
Accusations of Forced Labor in Xinjiang
In a statement from DJI’s ViewPoints team, the company described the CBP’s accusations of forced labor in Xinjiang, China, where the Uyghur minority has allegedly been subjected to forced labor, as “unfounded.”
DJI asserts that its products are manufactured in Shenzhen and Malaysia, and that it does not source any components from Xinjiang. The company also stated that its supply chain has been audited by U.S. retailers and complies with U.S. regulations.
DJI views the current import restrictions as a “misunderstanding” and is actively working with authorities to resolve the issue.
History of Restrictions
Although DJI is not currently listed on the UFLPA Entity List maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the company has faced other restrictions in the past. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce added DJI to its Entity List, accusing the company of supplying drones used for surveillance in Xinjiang.
DJI’s products have also been a point of contention amid the growing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, as the U.S. seeks to curb the influence of Chinese tech companies.
In the legislative arena, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Countering CCP Drones Act, which seeks to ban DJI products in the U.S. However, this bill has yet to be approved by the Senate.
Impact on the Market
Although the company believes the current customs issue is unrelated to pending legislation, it has mainly impacted DJI’s enterprise and agricultural drones, limiting the availability of the Air 3S on U.S. retail shelves.
DJI remains committed to clarifying its position and is actively providing documentation to demonstrate its compliance with U.S. regulations.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director