The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has implemented a prohibition on the importation of new foreign-produced humanoid robots and power inverters due to national security concerns, specifically targeting China. Beijing swiftly criticized the U.S. for engaging in protectionist practices. These actions are expected to strain relations with Beijing as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China currently dominates the global humanoid robot market, holding an estimated 85% market share.
Additionally, the FCC’s ban extends to new imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs. The agency justified the ban by stating that advanced robot imports pose cybersecurity and national security risks, leaving U.S. supply chains vulnerable to disruptions caused by offshore production. The ban on power inverters, crucial for converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances, could have far-reaching consequences.
FCC chair Brendan Carr emphasized on Tuesday that these measures aim to safeguard America’s critical supply chains. The bans specifically target “new versions” of the mentioned imports. These restrictions by the FCC come amid a series of U.S. limitations on Chinese imports, including drones, and controls on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. There are also deliberations on restricting the use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models at a time when Chinese AI is gaining significant traction.
China has been rapidly expanding its robotics usage, supported by favorable technology policies. Analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the humanoid robot market in China could reach $15 billion US by 2030. While restricting Chinese access to the U.S. market may shield American developers from price competition, it is unlikely to impede China’s overall humanoid development given its robust domestic manufacturing base and export opportunities.
In 2025, around 15,000 humanoid robots were shipped globally, with Unitree and AGIBOT, two major Chinese robotics companies, each shipping over 5,000 units. On the power inverter restrictions, Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang indicated that the impact on U.S. markets is expected to be minimal, as the ban does not affect existing devices or previously approved Chinese models sold in the U.S.
China has vowed to respond to the U.S. actions, accusing Washington of stretching the national security concept to suppress Chinese firms. The Chinese Foreign Ministry affirmed that it will take all necessary steps to protect Chinese companies’ legitimate rights and interests. Criticizing the U.S.’s protectionist stance, a ministry spokesperson emphasized that such measures do not enhance U.S. competitiveness and will likely harm American companies and consumers.
Moreover, the new bans could potentially disrupt collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology firms, impacting innovations like Nvidia’s humanoid robot reference design using China’s Unitree chassis. The Pentagon recently listed Unitree and other major Chinese tech companies as entities linked to or supporting the Chinese military, a claim that Beijing has refuted.