The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a prohibition on the importation of new foreign-manufactured humanoid robots and power inverters due to concerns about national security, with a specific focus on China. In response, Beijing has accused the U.S. of engaging in protectionist practices. These new restrictions are expected to strain relations with Beijing leading up to the upcoming meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China currently dominates the global market for humanoid robots, holding an estimated 85 percent market share.
Additionally, the FCC’s ban extends to new imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs. The FCC highlighted that the importation of advanced robots poses cybersecurity and other national security risks. The agency also pointed out that reliance on offshore production for such equipment exposes U.S. supply chains to potential disruptions.
The ban on power inverters, which are essential for converting direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and are widely used in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances, could have far-reaching implications. FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized that the objective of these measures is to safeguard America’s critical supply chains, specifying that the bans apply to new iterations of these imports.
This move by the FCC follows a series of restrictions imposed by the U.S. on imports of Chinese goods, including drones, as well as controls on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. There are also ongoing considerations regarding limitations on the utilization of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, as Chinese AI advances rapidly.
China’s utilization of robots has been expanding rapidly, supported by favorable government policies. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that the humanoid robot market in China could reach $15 billion by 2030. According to Morningstar analyst Kangyuxiao Li, Chinese manufacturers have been rapidly increasing production scale and reducing costs, outpacing many international competitors. The restrictions on Chinese access to the U.S. market may shield American developers from potential price competition but are unlikely to significantly impede China’s overall progress in humanoid technology due to its extensive domestic manufacturing capabilities and opportunities in other export markets.
Regarding the impact on power inverters, Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang suggested that the pressure on U.S. markets should be minimal. The ban does not seem to affect the ongoing use of existing devices or the sale of models previously approved by the United States by Chinese companies.
China’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strong response to the U.S. measures, criticizing Washington for stretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese firms. The ministry has vowed to take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses. It emphasized that protectionist policies do not enhance U.S. competitiveness and will, in fact, harm the interests of American companies and consumers. Lastly, the new bans could potentially disrupt collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology firms, impacting projects such as Nvidia’s humanoid robot reference design that utilizes components from China’s Unitree.
