The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has moved to ban imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks in a step that targets China. Beijing responded by accusing Washington of protectionism, and the measures are likely to test relations ahead of a planned September meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
What the FCC announced
FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said on Tuesday that the move was intended to “secure America’s critical supply chains.” The bans apply to “new versions” of such imports. The agency said imports of advanced robots pose cybersecurity and other national security risks, and that offshore production of such equipment leaves U.S. supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.
Alongside humanoid robots, the FCC is also blocking new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs.
Why power inverters are part of the package
Power inverters convert direct current electricity into alternating current electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances. The ban on inverter imports could have sweeping ramifications because the components touch so many parts of the energy and electronics economy. Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang said pressure on U.S. markets should be limited, and the ban does not appear to affect the continued use of existing devices or the sale by Chinese companies of models that were previously approved by the United States.
China’s grip on the humanoid robot market
China dominates the global market for humanoid robots, with an estimated market share of roughly 85%. Of the around 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s largest advanced robotics companies, each shipped more than 5,000, according to the technology research and advisory group Omdia. By comparison, U.S. counterparts such as Tesla and Figure AI each shipped a few hundred or less.
“Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs faster than most overseas competitors,” said Kangyuxiao Li, an analyst at Morningstar. “Restricting their access to the U.S. removes an important future market and protects U.S. developers from potential price competition. However, it will not materially slow China’s overall humanoid development, given the size of its domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export markets.”
Morgan Stanley analysts forecast that China’s market for humanoids could reach $15 billion by 2030.
How the new rules fit into broader U.S. restrictions
The FCC’s bans follow a series of U.S. restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of U.S. advanced technology to China. The U.S. is also weighing controls on the use of Chinese open-weight artificial intelligence models at a time when Chinese AI is rapidly gaining ground.
“It’s a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into [the] Trump-Xi summit planned for September,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.
The Pentagon recently included Unitree and several other major Chinese technology companies on its list of firms it said have ties to or aid the Chinese military. Beijing has rejected that claim.
China’s response
China’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington of overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies and said Beijing would take “all measures necessary” to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses.
“Protectionism does not make the U.S. more competitive, and it will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers,” Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a regular news conference on Wednesday in Beijing.
Could the bans disrupt U.S.-China tech collaboration?
Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia, said the new bans could potentially interfere with collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology companies. Nvidia, for example, in June revealed a humanoid robot reference design that uses the humanoid chassis of China’s Unitree, a tie-up that could be complicated by the new import restrictions.
FAQ
What did the FCC ban and who does it target?
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and power inverters, citing national security risks. The measures were widely seen as targeting China, which dominates global humanoid robot production.
How much of the global humanoid robot market does China control?
China holds an estimated 85% of the global humanoid robot market. Of roughly 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, Chinese firms Unitree and AGIBOT each shipped more than 5,000, according to Omdia, while U.S. companies such as Tesla and Figure AI each shipped a few hundred or fewer.
What is the impact of the ban on power inverters?
Power inverters convert DC electricity into AC electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances. FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said the bans apply to new versions of such imports. Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang said pressure on U.S. markets should be limited, and the ban does not affect continued use of existing devices or sales of previously approved models.
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This article summarizes reporting from latimes.com. See our editorial disclaimer for how our articles are produced.
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