The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, a decisive action taken to secure national supply chains against foreign control. This move directly targets China, which Beijing quickly labeled as protectionist. The measures are set to strain relations with Beijing just ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's planned September visit to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
China currently dominates the global market for humanoid robots, holding an estimated 85% market share. The FCC's prohibition also extends to new imports of quadruped robots, often known as four-legged robot dogs. The agency stated that advanced robot imports pose significant cybersecurity and other national security risks, arguing that offshore production leaves U.S. supply chains vulnerable to disruption.
Reclaiming National Control
FCC chairperson Brendan Carr declared the action was intended to "secure America's critical supply chains" just one day ago. He specified that the bans apply to "new versions" of these imports. This policy follows a series of U.S. restrictions on Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of advanced U.S. technology to China. Washington is also considering controls on the use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, as Chinese AI rapidly gains ground globally.
Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank, noted this creates a "steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints" leading into the upcoming Trump-Xi summit. China has aggressively expanded its use of robots, with state policies actively supporting its technology sector. Morgan Stanley analysts project China's humanoid market could swell to $15 billion by 2030, underscoring the scale of its ambition.
The Cost of Global Entanglement
Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs at a pace exceeding most overseas competitors, according to analyst Kangyuxiao Li at Morningstar. He explained that restricting their access to the U.S. market removes a crucial future revenue stream and shields U.S. developers from intense price competition. However, Li also acknowledged that this won't significantly impede China's overall humanoid development, given its vast domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export markets.
Data from Omdia, a technology research group, reveals the stark disparity: of approximately 15,000 humanoid robots shipped worldwide in 2025, China's Unitree and AGIBOT each shipped over 5,000 units. In contrast, U.S. counterparts like Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred or less. This imbalance highlights the vulnerability created by years of unchecked globalized production.
The new bans could also disrupt existing collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology companies. Nvidia, for instance, revealed a humanoid robot reference design just one month ago that utilizes the chassis from China's Unitree. The Pentagon recently included Unitree, among other major Chinese technology firms, on its list of entities with alleged ties to or aid for the Chinese military, a claim Beijing denies.
Protecting American Innovation
China's Foreign Ministry quickly retaliated against the U.S. move, accusing Washington of overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese businesses. The ministry stated China would take "all measures necessary" to defend the legitimate rights and interests of its companies. Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, told reporters that "Protectionism does not make the U.S. more competitive, and it will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers." This statement, however, ignores the long-term costs of allowing foreign dominance in critical sectors.
The ban on power inverters is expected to have limited pressure on U.S. markets, according to Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang. It does not affect the continued use of existing devices or the sale of Chinese models previously approved by the United States. This targeted approach aims to prevent future dependencies rather than disrupt current operations, a measured step towards reasserting national economic self-determination.