China’s drone manufacturer DJI confirmed on Wednesday (October 16) that the US government has suspended the import of some drones produced by DJI on grounds of forced labor.
Last week, a letter purportedly from DJI’s sales management department to distributors began circulating on social media and discussion platform Reddit.
The letter stated that the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cited the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as the basis for detaining certain imported drones from DJI.
“This action appears to be part of a broader effort by the US Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize the source of products, particularly drones manufactured in China,” the letter said.
DJI stated in the letter that CBP’s claims were baseless, asserting that their drone production process did not involve forced labor and emphasizing that the company did not operate production facilities in Xinjiang nor used materials produced in the region.
A Reddit user who identified as a DJI distributor in the US corroborated the information in the letter. The user mentioned uncertainty regarding which drone models were detained, but indicated that all drones from DJI’s Enterprise series were being held and unable to enter the company’s warehouses in the US.
On Wednesday, DJI confirmed the authenticity of the letter to Reuters. DJI informed Reuters that they are providing documentation to customs to demonstrate compliance with the UFLPA.
The US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Apart from allegations of forced labor, US lawmakers have raised concerns multiple times that DJI drones may pose risks related to data transmission, surveillance, and national security. However, the company has denied these claims.
Last month, the US House of Representatives passed the “Countering CCP Drones Act” proposed by Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, which places DJI on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blacklist, prohibiting the use of newly manufactured DJI drones in the US due to risks posed by Chinese drones to US critical infrastructure and national security.
DJI holds over half of the market share for drones sold in the US. The bill still needs Senate review and approval before it can be sent to the White House for presidential signature.
Last month, the US Department of Commerce announced that it is seeking public opinion on whether to impose restrictions on Chinese drones, similar to those proposed for Chinese cars, effectively blocking Chinese drones from entering the US.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNBC: “We are looking at drones that have Chinese and Russian equipment, chips, and software on them.”