Demonstrating DJI’s Commitment to Ethical Production & Labor Practices – sUAS News

DJI ViewPoints Team

A customs-related misunderstanding is currently affecting DJI’s ability to import select drones into the United States. This appears to be part of a broader initiative by the Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize the origins of products, particularly in the case of Chinese made drones. 

We want to take this opportunity to provide clarity on the issue and outline the steps we are taking to resolve it. To be clear: this is a customs matter and the evidence clearly demonstrates DJI’s compliance with existing laws. It is important to note that this is not a ban and does not appear to be linked to the proposed legislation against DJI in the U.S. Congress. 

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has cited the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), as the reason for the current holdups. This assertion made against DJI, however, is entirely unfounded and categorically false. There is no reason for CBP to be detaining DJI’s drones.

GET THE FACTS

The UFLPA requires CBP to presume that all goods made “wholly or in part” in Xinjiang, and/or by certain listed entities, were made using forced labor and, therefore, are inadmissible into the United States. U.S. law allows the CBP to withhold goods even in the absence of tangible evidence. In contrast, DJI possesses substantial evidence proving its compliance with U.S. regulations, including the UFLPA, and is working to rebut :

• DJI does not manufacture anything – in whole or in part – in Xinjiang. DJI has no manufacturing facilities in Xinjiang, nor do we source materials from the region. All of our manufacturing is based in Shenzhen, where our company is headquartered, or Malaysia. 
• Merchandise imported by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List are subject to the UFLPA’s restrictions. DJI is not a listed entity under the UFLPA. 
  
• DJI complies with U.S. law and international labor and manufacturing standards. DJI adheres to Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) and 22 U.S.C. §6901, and holds the ISO 45001 certification, affirming our adherence to the International Organization for Standardization’s occupational health and safety standards. 

  Our corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework is also built around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct. This framework reflects our commitment to responsible global practices.

• DJI’s supply chain undergoes rigorous due diligence audits by respected U.S. retailers. Their findings have consistently found that there is no evidence of forced labor within our supply chain.

WHAT WE’RE DOING ABOUT IT

DJI is actively working with the CBP to provide the necessary documentation demonstrating our compliance with the UFLPA. 

The evidence clearly supports DJI’s compliance, while the claims of any violations are baseless and unfounded. We are confident that this issue will be resolved promptly if evaluated on its merits.

In the meantime, we remain committed to the U.S. market and will keep our partners, customers, and the wider public informed as the situation develops. 

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