ZH compiled this report based on a news report from China Daily on February 26.
Chinese drone maker DJI, the world’s largest producer of civilian drones, has filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to challenge a US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order blocking imports of its new models and key components. The move underscores ongoing tensions between US trade and technology policy and global market dynamics.
The FCC placed DJI on its “covered list” in December 2025, restricting the sale and authorization of products deemed to pose national security risks. DJI argues that the decision lacked substantive evidence and procedural fairness, effectively denying US customers access to its latest technology.
DJI holds over 70% of the global civilian drone market, with its US share estimated between 70% and 90% across consumer, commercial, and government segments. More than 80% of the 1,800+ state and local law enforcement agencies using drones in the US rely on DJI products. The ban has disrupted supply chains, spurred stockpiling, and driven up secondary market prices by as much as 200%.
“Users choose DJI products because of availability, affordability, and capability, not nationality,” noted Greg Reverdiau, co-founder of a drone operators’ association in Arizona. Beyond drones, DJI’s action cameras and panoramic imaging products hold substantial global market shares, surpassing competitors like GoPro in several segments.
Legal analysts note that DJI’s challenge is part of a broader pattern of Chinese companies contesting US technology restrictions, citing precedent cases such as Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China and IDG Capital, which successfully overturned prior blacklist actions.
Liu Ying, senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University, warned that “US suppression of Chinese technology firms will inevitably trigger countermeasures, from legal action to trade and rule-based responses.” Historical data from the World Trade Organization suggests that US attempts to decouple from trading partners often backfire, undermining supply chains and global competitiveness.
For international investors, the case highlights the risks and uncertainties in the tech sector arising from geopolitical frictions. DJI’s lawsuit may influence not only drone and imaging markets but also broader discussions on technology supply chains, regulatory transparency, and market access for foreign firms in the US.