The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has announced a prohibition on the importation of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters due to national security concerns, specifically targeting China. Beijing has swiftly criticized the U.S., labeling the move as protectionist. These actions are anticipated to strain relations with Beijing as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China dominates the global humanoid robot market, holding an estimated market share of approximately 85%.
The ban imposed by the FCC extends to new imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs. The agency emphasized that the importation of advanced robots poses cybersecurity and other national security risks, and offshore production of such equipment exposes U.S. supply chains to potential disruptions.
In addition, the ban covers power inverters, essential for converting direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, utilized in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances. This restriction could have significant implications. FCC chair Brendan Carr stated on Tuesday that the objective of these actions is to “secure America’s critical supply chains,” applying to the “new versions” of these imports.
The FCC’s measures come on the heels of a series of U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports, including drones, and limitations on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. There is also contemplation of controls on the usage of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, coinciding with the rapid advancement of Chinese AI technology.
China has been actively expanding its utilization of robots, backed by supportive technology policies. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that China’s humanoid robot market could reach $15 billion US by 2030. Kangyuxiao Li, an analyst at Morningstar, noted that Chinese manufacturers have been rapidly scaling production and reducing costs, outpacing most international competitors. While restricting access to the U.S. market may shield U.S. developers from price competition, it is unlikely to significantly impede China’s overall humanoid robot development.
Regarding the restrictions on power inverters, Cheng Wang, another analyst at Morningstar, suggested that the impact on U.S. markets should be minimal. The ban does not seem to affect the use of existing devices or the selling of previously approved models by Chinese companies in the U.S.
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. actions, accusing Washington of stretching the definition of national security to suppress Chinese enterprises. China vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its businesses. The Ministry emphasized that protectionism does not enhance U.S. competitiveness and will only harm the interests of U.S. companies and consumers.
The recent bans could potentially disrupt collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology firms, according to Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia. For instance, Nvidia unveiled a humanoid robot reference design in June that utilizes the humanoid chassis produced by China’s Unitree. The Pentagon has listed Unitree and several other prominent Chinese tech companies as having connections to or supporting the Chinese military, a claim that Beijing has refuted.