U.S. Bans Import of New Chinese Humanoid Robots
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a sweeping ban on new imports of advanced foreign‑made humanoid robots, as well as the four‑legged machines that fall under the same category, citing “unacceptable risks” to America’s national security.
The Office of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added to this list power inverters—devices used in data centres and solar panels—that could similarly threaten U.S. economic security. The agency said these inverters could later be turned off, stolen, or used to facilitate remote access by foreign governments, while the robots could enable surveillance, intelligence gathering or be commandeered by malign actors.
A Chinese envoy in Washington responded by accusing the United States of politicising trade and of basing its sanctions on “groundless pretexts.” The embassy warned Beijing would take “all necessary measures” in response and urged all countries to collaborate on AI for the good of humanity.
The ban, which covers only new foreign‑produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters, does not block the sale or import of existing models that had earlier received FCC approval. Nonetheless, the move adds a layer of uncertainty for U.S. firms that rely on Chinese supply chains and for startups looking to enter the robotics market.
These restrictions form part of a broader U.S. strategy to curb China's rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles. The trade war has already seen the United States impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods while banning the export of cutting‑edge semiconductors to Beijing.
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