Has DJI Left the U.S.?

Tried to buy a new DJI drone lately?

If so, you’ve probably found that it’s out of stock:

Whether you’re going in person to Best Buy or shopping online at Amazon or at DJI’s digital store, almost all new DJI drones are completely out of stock.

It’s true that B&H and Adorama still have a handful of new DJI drones in stock, and on Amazon you can find some third-party listings. But in general, all major retailers report a near-total depletion of their DJI inventory.

The lack of stock was first noticed about two weeks back, and it’s only gotten worse since then.

Is DJI Quietly Exiting the U.S. Market?

So what’s going on? Is DJI just giving up on the U.S.?

Not at all, according to the company:

DJI remains committed to the US market. As we’ve previously shared, DJI has been working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to resolve a customs-related misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this has impacted our ability to stock and import drones and parts. We understand the frustration among our customers, but remain hopeful that this will be resolved.

– Daisy Kong, DJI Spokesperson

The Verge reached out to DJI to get this comment. When asked if tariffs have been part of the lack of inventory, DJI declined to comment further.

DJI’s Border Issues

The original border problem DJI refers to in the quote above started back in October of last year.

At the time, DJI shared that its drones were being stopped at the border due to a misunderstanding. According to the company, it was being accused of providing drones to the Chinese government to surveil Uyghurs, which would be a violation of a U.S. law called the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

DJI denies these allegations. Since then, it says it is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to try to resolve the issue.

For its part, CBP hasn’t made any official statements about the reason for restricting DJI imports, or even confirmed whether it is doing so.

In 6 Months, DJI Could Be Banned Anyway

The CBP issue may be the one DJI leans on to explain lack of inventory, or why the Mavic 4 Pro—a major, highly anticipated product launch for the company—wasn’t made available in the U.S.

But the reality is that DJI is under attack in many more ways. Tariffs have significantly impacted DJI’s ability to sell into the U.S., potentially more than doubling their costs for doing so.

And even bigger than that problem is the looming NDAA deadline. In six months, if DJI isn’t formally audited, it will automatically be banned. The deadline for the audit is December 23.

What Can You Do?

Concerned about the current lack of inventory and the upcoming automatic ban? Here’s how you can speak out:

• Use this tool to identify the Senator(s) and House Representative you should contact for where you live.
• The same tool has contact information for each person you should contact to express your opposition to allowing DJI to be automatically banned due to a lack of formal audit, as called for by the 2025 NDAA. Send a message or make a phone call to each person listed there.

Here’s a script you can use when reaching out, either in writing or by phone:

Dear [Senator/Representative Name],

I am writing as a concerned constituent regarding the upcoming automatic ban on DJI drones mandated by the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will take effect if DJI is not formally audited by December 23.

DJI drones are widely used by hobbyists, professionals, and public safety agencies across the U.S. The current lack of inventory and potential ban will significantly impact many Americans who rely on this technology.

I urge you to support efforts that allow for a fair and timely audit of DJI products rather than an automatic ban that could harm consumers and businesses alike.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]