Important Takeaways
- Certain drones cannot be imported into the United States by Shenzhen-based DJI due to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations.
- Some DJI drone imports have been suspended by CBP, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as the cause.
- DJI refutes the accusations and is attempting to demonstrate adherence to both international and US legal requirements.
It is now illegal for Shenzhen-based DJI, a manufacturer of consumer and professional drones, to import certain drones into the United States.
These restrictions especially affect its Air 3S model, which will not be available for purchase in the United States.
DJI verified that the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), not ongoing US congressional attempts to ban Chinese drones, was the rationale given by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the restriction.
Conflicts Between the US and DJI Regarding Allegations of Forced Labor
The CBP’s allegation that the company is associated with forced labor practices in Xinjiang, China, where Uyghur minorities have allegedly been subjected to forced labor, is “unfounded,” the DJI’s ViewPoints team wrote in a blog post.
The drone maker insists that it manufactures its drones in Shenzhen and Malaysia and does not obtain any of its parts from Xinjiang, where there have been claims of forced labor.
DJI says that its goods comply with US rules, and American retailers have scrutinized the company’s supply chain.
The business is actively collaborating with authorities to address the issue and refers to the present import limitations as a “misunderstanding.”
DJI has previously been subject to restrictions even though it is currently not on the UFLPA Entity List of the US Department of Homeland Security.
In 2020, the US Department of Commerce listed DJI on its Entity List after accusing the company of supplying drones for surveillance in Xinjiang.
In the continuing geopolitical tensions between the US and China, DJI’s goods have also been a source of friction, particularly as the US seeks to limit the influence of Chinese technology businesses.
The US House of Representatives passed the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would ban DJI devices in the US; however, the Senate has not yet given its approval.
DJI believes the current customs issue has nothing to do with the impending law, but it has reduced the Air 3S’s availability on US retail shelves and mostly impacted the company’s commercial and agricultural drones.
DJI is still working to make its position clear, nevertheless, and is aggressively supplying proof that it conforms with all US laws.
