Overview
DJI, the company that controls between 54 and 80 percent of the global consumer drone market, can no longer sell its products in either Beijing or Washington. As of 1 May 2026, Beijing banned the sale, rental, and transport of drones into the city. Five months earlier, in December 2025, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added DJI and all other foreign-made drones to its Covered List, blocking new products from receiving the equipment authorisation required for legal sale in America. The dual ban leaves DJI unable to operate in the two largest economies on earth.
The Beijing regulations
On the morning of 1 May, staff at DJI’s flagship retail store in Beijing’s Guomao business district cleared all drone models — Neo, Mavic, Mini — from the shelves. The store was complying with a regulation approved by Beijing’s legislature in March that bans the sale, rental, and transport of drones into China’s capital. E-commerce platforms Taobao and JD.com halted drone shipments to Beijing the same day.
The regulations cover the entire lifecycle of drone ownership:
- All outdoor drone flights within Beijing’s jurisdiction require prior approval from authorities.
- Individuals who fly without approval face fines of up to 10,000 yuan (roughly $1,460) and confiscation of the device.
- Storage violations carry fines of up to 5,000 yuan for individuals and 10,000 yuan for companies.
- Drones and key components cannot be transported into the city without permission and can only be carried by registered owners who have verified themselves with police.
- Inside the city’s Sixth Ring Road, an urban zone covering roughly 2,288 square kilometres, residents are barred from storing more than three drones or ten core components at a single address without government approval.
- Every drone owner in Beijing had until 30 April to register their devices with local police, complete a 30-minute exam on an official app, and verify their identity. Unregistered drones are now illegal to possess.
The official justification is security. Beijing is the political centre of China, home to the Communist Party’s leadership compound at Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, military installations, and government ministries. Online reaction on Chinese social media described the rules as a “crazy one-size-fits-all system.” Drone dealers across mainland China reported sharp drops in April sales, and used drone listings surged on Chinese resale platforms as Beijing residents attempted to offload devices before the registration deadline.
The US ban
The American ban operates on a different mechanism. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress required a US national security agency to complete a formal review of