Let’s keep this discussion focused and free from political bias so we can help the mods out.
It seems like US customs is holding DJI drone shipments coming directly from China. This isn’t just about the Air 3S—it’s affecting other models too. Most of the delays appear to be happening at the Kentucky international imports office, while other offices are letting shipments through inconsistently. It’s unclear if this is due to miscommunication or differing enforcement. The official reason being cited is that DJI uses forced labor in manufacturing.
The US government is also working to block the sale and use of new DJI drones. This ban could include parts with electronics, though non-electronic components like motors and propellers may still be allowed. Contractors for federal and state agencies will no longer be able to use DJI drones, and repairs sent to China or firmware updates may also face complications. If this policy passes, users may need VPNs for updates and repairs.
You can provide your feedback on the matter until March through the following link: http://Regulations.gov (Docket Number: BIS-2024-0058-0001).
Personally, I think this could be influenced by US drone lobbyists. They’re claiming forced labor is an issue, but many other products manufactured under similar conditions aren’t facing bans. Some are also raising concerns about DJI drones being used for spying, yet similar scrutiny isn’t applied to other tech like iPhones.
Edit: Cleaned up some grammar and shortened it for easier reading.
This feels like TikTok all over again. The US bans tech they can’t control. During COVID, they leaned on social media companies to censor news, but they couldn’t do that with TikTok. Now it’s DJI’s turn. Freedom? Sure.
TomHenry said:
This has been brewing for months. If you’re looking for a lobbyist to blame, check out Skydio.
The official announcement just came out on January 3rd, though.
It’s been happening for months. Skydio is the lobbyist pushing this, but ironically they just lost their army contract. The delay was recently extended to give time to prove DJI drones are unsafe. DJI has even invited third-party hackers to test their products and report any issues.
I don’t think the forced labor claim is the real reason. If they cared about that, there are plenty of other products made under similar conditions. This feels more like a fear of DJI drones being used for spying.
Ellis said: @Brook
Like I said, I think it’s US drone companies lobbying for the ban.
But US companies don’t even seem to be targeting DJI’s market. They’re focused on high-end industrial drones, not the $500-$1000 range that DJI dominates.
@Brook
We bought a $20k US-made drone for mapping and construction. It started having issues within three years, and fixing it would’ve cost $10k. We switched to a DJI Mavic 3E for a fraction of the cost, and it’s vastly better.
Two DJI shipments I ordered didn’t make it past customs, but I found a Fly More Combo on Amazon and it shipped today. Fingers crossed it arrives tomorrow.
I was planning to get an Air 3S to start real estate photography as a side gig, but now I’m not sure. There’s no US-made alternative in the same price range, and this whole situation is really discouraging.
Apple is a US company that manufactures in China. DJI is a Chinese company, and China requires its companies to share data with the government. This isn’t a baseless argument—look at Huawei.