RE: The tariff classification of various models of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) from China

U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Commodity Specialist Division One World Trade Center, Suite 51.201 New York, NY 10007 U.S. Customs and Border Protection N365877 October 14, 2026 CLA-2-88:OT:RR:NC:N2:201 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 8806.21.0000; 8806.22.0000 Mr. Joseph Haglili Del Tech Vista LLC 456 Reads Lane Far Rockaway, NY 11691 RE: The tariff classification of various models of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) from China Dear Mr. Haglili: In your letter dated October 8, 2026, you requested a tariff classification ruling. Please note, Chapter 88 Subheading Note (2) states, “For the purposes of subheadings 8806.21 to 8806.24 and 8806.91 to 8806.94, the expression “maximum take-off weight” means the maximum weight of the machine in normal flying order, at take-off, including the weight of payload, equipment and fuel.” The first item under consideration has been identified as the DJI Mini 3. The Mini 3 is a foldable, battery-powered quadcopter unmanned aircraft designed to be flown remotely by an operator using a handheld radio remote controller (with or without a connected smartphone running the DJI Fly app). The aircraft has four electric motors with propellers, a flight controller, GPS/GNSS positioning, downward vision sensors, and a radio transmission system. It is equipped with an integrated 3-axis mechanical gimbal camera (1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, 4K video and still photos) that records to a microSD card in the aircraft. You state that the maximum take-off weight is under 250 g with the standard Intelligent Flight Battery. You claim that the principal use is consumer aerial photography, videography, and recreational flight. As imported, the DJI Mini 3 will be packaged in a retail box containing the aircraft, remote controller, Intelligent Flight Battery, spare propellers, cables and accessories. In your request, you suggest classification of the DJI Mini 3 in subheading 8806.21.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). We agree. The applicable subheading for the DJI Mini 3 will be 8806.21.0000, HTSUS, which provides for “Unmanned aircraft: Other, for remote-controlled flight only: With maximum take-off weight not more than 250 g.” The general rate of duty will be Free. The second item under consideration has been identified as the DJI Mini 5 Pro. The Mini 5 Pro is a foldable, battery-powered quadcopter unmanned aircraft designed to be flown remotely by an operator using a handheld radio remote controller. The aircraft has four electric motors with propellers, a flight controller, GNSS positioning, omnidirectional obstacle-sensing vision/LiDAR sensors, and a radio transmission system. It is equipped with an integrated 3-axis mechanical gimbal camera (1 inch CMOS sensor, 4K video and still photos) that records to storage in the aircraft. You state that the maximum take-off weight, which is confirmed by your inclusion of the operator’s manual, is 249.9 g. In addition, you state that, according to DJI specifications, the maximum take-off mass (MTOM) with the standard Intelligent Flight Battery is approximately 249.9 g +/- 4 g due to batch material variation. You state that there is a specific model of the Mini 5, model MT5MFNDC, that is supplied with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. This specific model, and others which may be supplied with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus have a maximum take-off weight which is above 250 g, but less than 7 kg. You claim that the principal use is consumer aerial photography, videography, and recreational flight. As imported, the DJI Mini 5 will be packaged in a retail box containing the aircraft, remote controller, Intelligent Flight Batteries, spare propellers, cables and accessories. In your request you suggest classification of the DJI Mini 5 with a maximum take-off weight of not more than 25 g in 8806.21.0000, HTSUS. We agree. In addition, you suggest that model MT5MFNDC, and any configuration supplied with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, which have a take-off weight above 250 g would be correctly classified in 8806.22.0000. Again, we agree. The applicable subheading for the DJI Mini 5 Pro will be 8806.21.0000, HTSUS, which provides for “Unmanned aircraft: Other, for remote-controlled flight only: With maximum take-off weight not more than 250 g.” The general rate of duty will be Free. The applicable subheading for the DJI Mini 5 (Model MT5MFNDC) will be 8806.22.0000, HTSUS, which provides for “Unmanned aircraft: Other, for remote-controlled flight only: With maximum take-off weight of more than 250 g but not more than 7 kg.” The general rate of duty will be Free. The third item under consideration has been identified as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. The Mavic 4 Pro is a foldable, battery-powered quadcopter unmanned aircraft designed to be flown remotely by an operator using a handheld radio remote controller. The aircraft has four electric motors with propellers, a flight controller, GNSS positioning, omnidirectional obstacle-sensing vision/LiDAR sensors, and a radio transmission system. It is equipped with an integrated rotating gimbal with a multi-camera system (Hasselblad 4/3 CMOS main camera plus two telephoto cameras) for video and still photography. You state that the maximum take-off weight is listed at 1,085 g, the maximum take-off mass (MTOM) stated by DJI for models L3A/L3B. You claim that the principal use is consumer, and prosumer aerial photography and videography. As imported, the Mavic 4 Pro will be packaged in a retail box containing the aircraft, remote controller, Intelligent Flight Batteries, spare propellers, cables and accessories. The applicable subheading for the DJI Mavic 4 Pro will be 8806.22.0000, HTSUS, which provides for “Unmanned aircraft: Other, for remote-controlled flight only: With maximum take-off weight of more than 250 g but not more than 7 kg.” The general rate of duty will be Free. The duties cited above are current as of this ruling’s issuance. Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided at https://hts.usitc.gov/. This ruling does not address the admissibility, or applicability of any additional duties, taxes, fees, exactions and/or other charges, which may apply to the goods discussed herein. This includes, but is not limited to, tariffs and other duties as provided for in Subchapter III to Chapter 99, HTSUS. Thus, for example, in addition to the classification stated above, the merchandise covered by this ruling may also need to be reported with either the Chapter 99 provision under which an additional tariff applies or one of the Chapter 99 provisions covering exceptions to such tariffs. For further information to assist with the importation process, please refer to the frequently updated Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) messages at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/cargo-systems-messaging-service and the Trade Remedies page at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies. The holding set forth above applies only to the specific factual situation and merchandise description as identified in the ruling request. This position is clearly set forth in Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 177.9(b)(1). This section states that a ruling letter is issued on the assumption that all of the information furnished in the ruling letter, whether directly, by reference, or by implication, is accurate and complete in every material respect. In the event that the facts are modified in any way, or if the goods do not conform to these facts at time of importation, you should bring this to the attention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and submit a request for a new ruling in accordance with 19 CFR 177.2. Additionally, we note that the material facts described in the foregoing ruling may be subject to periodic verification by CBP. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs and Border Protection Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, please contact National Import Specialist Matthew Sullivan at matthew.sullivan@cbp.dhs.gov. Sincerely, (for) James P. Forkan Director National Commodity Specialist Division