New DJI Drones Are Shut Out of the US as the FCC Lists Foreign Drones
You can still fly the DJI you own, but new models cannot get FCC authorization, and tariffs now hit drones as well.
Key takeaways
- Foreign-made drones and critical components were added to the FCC Covered List in late December 2025.
- Existing authorized DJI drones keep working; software updates are allowed through at least January 1, 2027.
- A Section 232 proclamation signed Aug. 13, 2026 sets 25% tariffs on most drones, 100% on larger and thermal models.
DJI is not banned in the United States, but for new products it might as well be. In late December 2025 the FCC put foreign-made drones and their critical components on its Covered List, cutting off new equipment authorizations, importation and marketing. Cameras and drones launched since then, from DJI at least, have mostly skipped the US.
What the Covered List does
The listing restricts new FCC authorizations. It does not ground drones people already own, and nothing disables them. Under FCC Public Notice DA 26-69, owners of already-authorized DJI drones can keep receiving software updates through at least January 1, 2027. The practical effect is on the product pipeline: reporting from April 2026 counted 25 DJI launches blocked, and named the Pocket 4 camera as denied FCC approval and unavailable in the US.
In June 2026 the FCC removed a narrow set of foreign-made toy drones from the list, but popular models, including DJI's smallest drones, stayed on it.
Tariffs on top
A separate Section 232 proclamation signed August 13, 2026 sets a 100% tariff on drones over 55 lb, thermal-equipped aircraft, docks and listed components, and 25% on nearly everything else, effective September 3. Even where a foreign drone is allowed, it is costlier.
Why it matters
Consumer drones and action cameras are one of the few hardware categories where a single non-US company sets the pace. Cutting it off from new US sales changes what American buyers can get, and pushes them toward gray-market imports or smaller rivals with less polish.
DJI has challenged the action in the Ninth Circuit (SZ DJI Technology Co. v. FCC, No. 26-1029), though one commentator notes the court could dismiss it as premature.
What owners and sellers should know
For anyone who already owns a DJI drone, the immediate message is reassuring. Flying is still legal, nothing in the Covered List renders an authorized aircraft unusable, and the FCC's notice allows updates to continue at least until January 1, 2027. What is unclear is what happens afterwards: if updates stop, owners may face stale firmware, missing safety fixes or lost features, and there is no promise of an extension.
Retailers and importers have a harder problem. They cannot legally market equipment that lacks authorization, so new DJI models are simply not appearing on US shelves, and the 25 products reported as blocked in 2026 represent about $1.5 billion at stake according to one tally. Some buyers will turn to grey-market imports, which carry their own risks around warranty, support and compliance, while others will look to smaller US and allied manufacturers whose products are usually less advanced or more expensive.
A policy fight with several fronts
The legal route is slow. DJI has taken its case to the Ninth Circuit and has also asked the FCC to reconsider, and the National Law Review's analysis of the dispute suggests the process may run through the agency before a court is willing to rule. In the meantime, the commercial effect is already real. Section 232 tariffs add a second layer of cost for any imported drone that remains available, which compounds the supply problem instead of easing it.
Observers are also watching for narrow carve-outs. The June 2026 removal of certain toy drones from the list shows the FCC will adjust its position at the margins, though it left the popular consumer models in place. Whether the agency widens or tightens the rules will matter well beyond DJI: the same logic could be applied to other connected devices built by foreign manufacturers, including cameras and robotics products, and hardware makers will be reading these decisions closely.
What to watch
- The Ninth Circuit case and DJI's reconsideration petition at the FCC.
- What happens to updates after January 1, 2027.
- Whether US-based drone makers can scale up to fill the gap.
Sources
- FCC eases drone import rules — Android Authority
- DJI vs. FCC: What the Covered List Could Mean for Drone Operators and Manufacturers — National Law Review
- The drone war escalates: DJI sues FCC to save US sales — Notebookcheck
- Is DJI Banned in the US? The FCC Covered List and What It Means for You — The Drone U
