US Restricts Imports of Chinese Humanoid Robots Over Security Concerns

The United States has announced new restrictions on imports of Chinese humanoid robots and power inverters, citing cybersecurity and national security risks. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added these devices to its Covered List on Tuesday, stating that the move aims to protect critical US infrastructure and encourage domestic manufacturing of advanced robots.

Key Highlights

• US bans imports of Chinese humanoid robots and power inverters citing national security concerns.
• FCC adds these devices to its Covered List and requires licenses for robots with less than 65 percent US components.
• Chinese company Unitree holds nearly 20 percent of global humanoid robot market share.
• Ban expected to impact Chinese firms more than non-Chinese suppliers due to licensing restrictions.

Details of the New Restrictions

The ban targets new foreign-made advanced robots, including humanoid and four-legged machines, as well as power inverters. The FCC explained that these devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities and pose cybersecurity threats to US economic and national security. The agency emphasized its commitment to securing America’s critical supply chains.

Under the new measures, any robot not made in the US and containing less than 65 percent US components by value will require a license for import. Since most advanced chips are not produced in the US, this rule could affect almost all foreign robots. While the ban does not explicitly target Chinese robots, it is expected that Chinese companies will face significant challenges in obtaining licenses.

The FCC is likely to exempt many non-Chinese suppliers from these restrictions, as it has done in previous bans on foreign drones and routers. The agency’s actions reflect ongoing concerns about the security of foreign-made technology used in sensitive sectors.

Market Impact and Industry Response

Chinese companies have rapidly expanded their presence in the humanoid robot market, outpacing US firms such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics. Unitree, a leading Chinese robot manufacturer, holds nearly 20 percent of the global market share. The company recently partnered with Nvidia to use Blackwell chips in its robots, with Nvidia assuring that data from these robots would remain in the US.

Unitree is one of three major Chinese firms dominating the humanoid robot sector. The Pentagon recently added Unitree to its list of alleged Chinese military-backed companies, a move seen as a possible step toward stricter US actions.

The Chinese embassy in Washington responded to the ban by urging the US to listen to business communities in both countries and to stop imposing sanctions on Chinese firms. The embassy called for objective and rational dialogue between the two nations.

Security and Data Concerns

The FCC raised concerns that foreign-made robots could be misused to collect data, surveil Americans, or enhance foreign intelligence capabilities. The agency warned that such robots might be remotely controlled to disrupt critical US infrastructure or industries.

Critics of Chinese technology argue that these robots could extract sensitive data from US industries and send it to Beijing, or interfere with essential operations. US lawmakers have previously called for bans on Chinese robots due to these risks.

Broader Context and Related Technologies

China is also the world’s largest producer of power inverters, with companies like Sungrow Power Supply and Huawei leading the market. Chinese-made inverters have gained market share in Western countries due to lower prices.

The US is also monitoring Chinese AI models such as Kimi K3 and GLM 5.2, which are approaching the capabilities of leading US models but at a lower cost. There are concerns that these models could be trained using techniques that replicate US-developed AI systems.