The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has issued a prohibition on the importation of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing concerns over national security risks, with a particular focus on China. In response, Beijing has criticized the U.S., labeling the move as protectionist.
These measures are expected to strain relations with Beijing in anticipation of an upcoming visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China currently holds a dominant position in the global humanoid robot market, boasting an estimated market share of approximately 85 percent.
Additionally, the FCC’s ban extends to new imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs. The agency has raised alarms about the cybersecurity and other national security risks posed by the importation of advanced robots. Offshore production of such equipment is seen as a vulnerability to U.S. supply chains.
The restriction on power inverters, devices used to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) for applications in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances, could have significant implications. FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized that the decision aims to safeguard America’s critical supply chains and applies to the importation of “new versions” of such products.
This move by the FCC follows a series of U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports, including drones, and limitations on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. The U.S. is also contemplating controls on the utilization of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, coinciding with the rapid advancement of Chinese AI technology.
China has been rapidly expanding its utilization of robots, supported by favorable policies for its technology sector. Analysts project that China’s humanoid robot market could reach $15 billion US by 2030, attributing this growth to Chinese manufacturers scaling up production and reducing costs at a faster pace than their international counterparts.
The ban on Chinese imports could potentially impact collaborations between U.S. and Chinese tech firms, such as Nvidia’s recent introduction of a humanoid robot reference design based on China’s Unitree’s chassis. Notably, the Pentagon has flagged Unitree and other major Chinese tech companies for their alleged ties to the Chinese military, a claim that Beijing has refuted.