Drone and UAV
Chinese Drone Ban Update: Why DJI Is Still Stuck in the US
If you’re a US drone pilot wondering whether DJI drones are banned, partially banned, or simply politically inconvenient, you’re not alone. The answer lies in a tangled web of federal agencies, overlapping rules, and US–China geopolitics. While the US Department of Commerce has quietly withdrawn a proposal to restrict Chinese-made drones, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to enforce rules that block new DJI models from entering the US market.
The result? Relief for existing drone owners, but growing uncertainty for the future.
Commerce Department retreats from its toughest proposal
In early January, the Commerce Department scrapped a proposed rule that would have ban Chinese-made drones under its Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) authority. That proposal was widely viewed as the “nuclear option,” as it could have targeted critical drone systems such as flight controls, communications links, onboard computers, and software.
Had it moved forward, the rules may have made existing DJI drones illegal to operate, not just harder to buy. Instead, Commerce stepped away after months of internal review, choosing not to escalate restrictions further.
Industry observers say the withdrawal signals a strategic pause rather than a policy reversal—one shaped as much by diplomacy as by security concerns.
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FCC drone ban still blocks new DJI models
While Commerce backed off, the FCC has already acted. In December 2025, it added foreign-made drones and key components to its Covered List, preventing them from receiving the equipment authorizations required for new models to be sold in the US.
This directly impacts DJI, Autel Robotics, and other Chinese manufacturers. However, the FCC rules stop short of grounding drones already in use. Existing DJI drones remain legal to fly, and previously approved models can still be sold.
In January 2026, the FCC added limited exemptions—such as drones on the Pentagon’s Blue UAS Cleared List and those meeting a 65% domestic content requirement—but DJI remains excluded.
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Why geopolitics matters more than technology
According to reports, the Commerce Department’s retreat appears to be linked to Washington’s efforts to ease tensions with Beijing ahead of a planned April meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. That context undermines claims that Chinese drones pose an immediate national security emergency.
If the threat were urgent, critics argue, enforcement wouldn’t pause for diplomatic convenience. Instead, drones appear to be one bargaining chip in a broader US–China negotiation.
What this means for US drone pilots
For now, DJI drones are not disappearing from US skies. If you already own one, you can keep flying it. But the long-term picture is murkier. As fleets age, operators may struggle with repairs, replacements, and access to newer models blocked by FCC rules.
The Commerce Department stepping aside didn’t solve the problem—it simply avoided making it worse.
In the short term, uncertainty alone may reshape the US drone market. And for many pilots and businesses that rely heavily on DJI hardware, that uncertainty could be just as disruptive as an outright ban.
