DJI Reportedly Exits U.S. Market
The U.S. market is currently experiencing a shortage of DJI drones due to a combination of customs-related issues and regulatory pressures.
DJI, a leading manufacturer of drones, has been working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to resolve a customs-related misunderstanding that has disrupted their ability to import drones and parts. This has resulted in widespread shortages across major retailers such as B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon, and Best Buy.
Although there is no formal ban on DJI drones in the U.S. yet, a significant factor adding pressure is the looming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deadline on December 23, 2025. This NDAA requires a U.S. national security agency to complete a security review of DJI drones. If this review does not occur by the deadline, DJI may be automatically banned from importing or selling drones in the U.S. This federal review has not been scheduled as of July 2025, and DJI has publicly urged the government to conduct it, stating they have "nothing to hide."
In addition, shipments of DJI drones are being delayed or blocked partly due to enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which has complicated customs clearance but is not itself a direct ban on DJI products.
DJI has emphasized their commitment to the U.S. market and hopes to resolve these customs issues soon. However, the ongoing political and regulatory environment is creating significant uncertainty and scarcity for DJI drones in the United States.
As of now, DJI drones are out of stock at Best Buy, Amazon, and DJI's digital store. If DJI isn't formally audited by the NDAA deadline in six months, it will automatically be banned from the U.S. market. CBP has not made any official statements about the reason for restricting DJI imports.
In response to this situation, a script is provided for reaching out to Senators and House Representatives about the DJI ban issue. DJI urges support for a fair and timely audit of their products rather than an automatic ban.
[1] https://www.cnet.com/tech/drones/dji-says-it-is-working-with-customs-and-border-protection-to-resolve-import-issues/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/technology/dji-says-us-customs-issues-affecting-drone-shipments-2021-10-28/ [3] https://www.engadget.com/dji-drone-shortage-us-customs-171959455.html [4] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/20/dji-denies-providing-drones-to-chinese-government-to-surveil-uyghurs.html
- To mitigate the ongoing shortage of DJI drones, the prominent drone manufacturer is collaborating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to address customs-related challenges that have impacted their import process.
- Despite a potential ban on DJI drones not being enforced yet, the looming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deadline on December 23, 2025, and complications caused by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) have instilled a sense of uncertainty and scarcity within the U.S. market.
- To ensure the continued presence of DJI's advanced gadgets, including drones, in the business sector, the company has requested the government to expeditiously carry out security reviews and schedule audits to avoid any future automatc bans and maintain technological innovation in the USA.
