The Trump administration has announced a ban on new imports of advanced foreign-made robots, including humanoid and four-legged machines, to the United States, citing risks to national security.
According to BBC News, the Federal Communications Commission has also barred imports of power inverters, which are used in data centres and solar panels. The FCC said the devices could pose risks to the US economy as well as security.
FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the agency was acting to help secure US critical supply chains. The items have been added to the FCC’s Covered List, which identifies goods and services regarded as national security risks.
The restrictions apply to new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters. They do not block the sale or import of existing models that had already been authorised by the FCC.
The FCC said foreign-made inverters could potentially be turned off by overseas firms, used to steal data, enable remote access or surveillance, or be exploited in a cyberattack. It also said robots made outside the US could be used by “malign actors” for surveillance, to assist foreign intelligence services or to be remotely taken over.
China is the world’s largest maker of humanoid robots, and many of the machines affected are produced there. The Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing has long opposed what it called the US “politicising” trade matters and imposing sanctions on “groundless pretexts”.
The embassy said China would take “all necessary measures” in response to actions harming its interests. It also urged the US to “abandon its hegemonic mindset” and stop targeting Chinese companies.
The BBC said it had contacted major Chinese robot manufacturers Unitree, UBTech and AgiBot for comment.
The move comes as Chinese exports face close scrutiny in Washington. The Trump administration has sought to address trade imbalances with China, while the US has also restricted sales of advanced American semiconductors to Beijing on national security grounds.
