DJI Mavic 4 Pro Faces US Launch Blockade: Tariffs and Trade Wars Ground Cutting-Edge Drone
DJI's latest flagship drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, boasting groundbreaking features like a 360-degree rotating gimbal and a 100-megapixel camera, is hitting markets worldwide but faces an unexpected obstacle: the United States. Due to ongoing trade tensions, particularly tariffs imposed during the Trump administration era, the Mavic 4 Pro will not be available for purchase in the US at launch.
This marks a significant shift for DJI, a company known for its popular Mavic series, favored by professional photographers and filmmakers. The Mavic 4 Pro, which launched globally on May 13th, is currently available in Canada, the UK, and Europe, priced at $2,049 CAD, £1,879, and €2,099 respectively.
"The DJI Mavic 4 Pro will not be available for sale in the U.S. upon its global launch," a DJI spokesperson told PetaPixel. "Like many global companies, we have had to adjust our market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved. While we do not have a timeline for when we can introduce the product to the U.S. market, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution."
One of the primary reasons cited by DJI is the impact of tariffs. Although some tariffs have been paused, the uncertainty surrounding US trade policies has made it difficult for DJI to plan its US launch. Furthermore, US Customs delays in importing drones into the country adds another layer of complexity.
The Mavic 4 Pro is packed with impressive features. It is the first DJI drone to feature a 360-degree rotating gimbal, enabling versatile footage capture, and it boasts a flight time of up to 51 minutes. Its triple-camera array includes a built-in 100-megapixel camera capable of recording 6K/60fps HDR video.
ZDNET's review highlights the Mavic 4 Pro as an "exceptional airframe, top-class obstacle avoidance sensors, and amazing cameras." The reviewer found the flight time impressive, consistently achieving around 45 minutes of mixed flight time during testing. Despite a few minor bugs encountered during autonomous flight mode videoing activities, the overall experience was positive, noting the drone's smooth maneuvering and responsive controls.
However, importing the drone from overseas poses challenges. A new US customs rule requires formal entry processing for all items worth more than $800, significantly lower than the previous $2,500 limit. Therefore, not declaring the Mavic 4 Pro at the border would be considered smuggling.
DJI emphasizes that its limited warranty is only valid in the country or region where the drone was purchased. Purchasing the drone overseas and bringing it into the US would likely void the warranty.
The postponement of the US launch of the Mavic 4 Pro raises questions about the future of DJI's product availability in the US market. While DJI says they are "actively exploring every possible solution,", the situation remains uncertain. Will DJI be able to navigate trade-related obstacles and bring the Mavic 4 Pro to US consumers anytime soon? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.
