The United States government has put a stop to imports of some DJI drones‚ as the Chinese drone maker told Reuters on 10/16/24. A letter from DJI to its distributors‚ which was not previously reported‚ states that US Customs and Border Protection is using the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as grounds for holding back certain drones from entering the country
DJI which controls more than half of the US drone market‚ strongly denies any use of forced labor in its production process. The company said its providing Customs with papers to show its following UFLPA rules. In its letter‚ DJI suggested that this action might be “part of a wider plan by the Department of Homeland Security to look closely at where products come from‚ especially Chinese-made drones“
The letter calls the claims “unfounded and completely wrong‚ but the law lets them hold goods without real proof“. US lawmakers have often said DJI drones could be used for spying and pose risks to national security – something the company doesnt agree with
Last month‚ the US House of Representatives voted to stop new DJI drones from being used in the US. The Senate still needs to act on this bill. Also in September‚ the Commerce Department asked for opinions on whether to put limits on Chinese drones that would basically ban them in the US – similar to suggested limits on Chinese vehicles
Weʼre looking at drones that have Chinese and Russian equipment‚ chips and software in them
The UFLPA which started about two years ago‚ aims to fight what the US government calls forced labor abuse against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region. It stops US imports of goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang or by certain groups