Tariffs and Import Troubles Knock Out One of DJI’s Biggest Markets

The excitement of DJI’s recent flagship drone announcement was slightly diminished by the decision to exclude US customers from the launch. Though the US and DJI have been on poor terms for years, many did not expect the drone manufacturer to willingly sacrifice such a large market.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro went live for customers in Canada, Mexico, and other nations on May 13. However, due to President Trump’s tariff policies and troubles clearing US Customs with drone imports, there is no telling when (or if) it will be available in the US.

The drone maker had a similar problem with another recently-released product, the Air 3S. DJI was unable to sell the Air 3S at retail because of what it described as “a broader initiative by the Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize the origins of products, particularly in the case of Chinese-made drones.”

While the company’s statement was not confirmed or denied by US lawmakers, there’s no denying that Chinese drone manufacturers have been under more intense scrutiny. In April 2023, Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik introduced the Countering CCP Drones Act to get DJI a spot on an FCC-maintained list of companies that pose a risk to national security. This would have barred DJI from making sales in the US and potentially even revoked its existing FCC approvals.

Luckily, though it passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress left the bill out of the 2025 NDAA. DJI is not completely in the clear, but for now, the only thing keeping it out of the US market is itself.

Despite the initial disappointment, the Mavic 4 Pro is still a welcome addition to the DJI collection. It takes the place of the Mavic 3 Pro as the drone maker’s flagship product, featuring three cameras, a 360-degree rotating gimbal, and almost an hour of flight time.

The drone’s main camera is a 100MP Hasselblad sensor. It is supported by large CMOS dual tele cameras in an Infinity Gimbal with 360 degrees of rotation. The Mavic 4 Pro also has a 51-minute maximum flight time - the longest of any Mavic yet.

FMI: www.dji.com