Overview

• U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C., denied DJI’s petition to be removed from the Defense Department list.
• The opinion found sufficient evidence that DJI contributes to China’s defense industrial base, including NDRC recognition with subsidies and tax benefits.
• Friedman noted indications that state-sponsored entity Chengtong holds an unspecified stake in DJI, supporting a military‑civil fusion finding.
• The court rejected several other Defense Department assertions for lack of proof, highlighting factual errors in parts of the record.
• The designation limits access to U.S. contracts and grants, and DJI faces ongoing customs holds and a potential U.S. import ban in December.