The Trump administration on Tuesday announced a ban on new foreign-made humanoid robot imports to the US over "unacceptable risks" to national security. The move applies to advanced robots — including humanoid and four-legged machines — many of which are made in China.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also banned imports of power inverters used in data centers and solar panels, citing similar security concerns.
FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the agency was protecting "America's critical supply chains." The items were added to the FCC's Covered List — a register of goods deemed a national security risk.
The ban applies to new foreign-produced devices and does not affect existing models previously authorized. The FCC cited concerns that foreign-made inverters could allow overseas firms to steal data or facilitate remote surveillance, and that non-US robots could be used to "surveil Americans" or enhance foreign intelligence capabilities.
The Chinese embassy in Washington called on the US to "abandon its hegemonic mindset" and said Beijing would "take all necessary measures" in response.
China has rapidly developed humanoid robots for factories and homes, racing ahead of US rivals like Tesla and Boston Dynamics.
