Trump Administration Bans New Chinese Humanoid and Quadruped Robots

Trump Administration Bans New Chinese Humanoid and Quadruped Robots

Alongside the robotics ban, the FCC has prohibited the import of connected power inverters. These components are used in solar panels and data centers to allow batteries and renewable energy sources to connect to equipment and electrical grids. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated the agency is taking these steps to secure America’s critical supply chains.

National Security and Economic Objectives

U.S. officials stated that the restrictions are designed to safeguard the American AI supply chain against Chinese cyberattacks, data theft, and threats of disruption. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that President Trump believes the U.S. must maintain independent and secure supply chains for critical and emerging technologies such as power inverters and robotic devices.

The policy is also intended to encourage “onshoring” by incentivizing companies to shift their manufacturing operations back to the U.S. The administration official added that economic security is national security and that the current policy agenda aims to reindustrialize America.

Further security concerns involve the potential for robots to spy on key U.S. industries and exfiltrate data to Beijing. Officials also cited the need to avoid hacking campaigns similar to the 2023 “Volt Typhoon” event, where attackers used privately owned routers to hide attacks on critical infrastructure.

Impact on the Robotics and Energy Sectors

The ban is expected to heavily impact Unitree, a global leader in humanoid robots. According to Counterpoint Research, Unitree holds nearly one-fifth of the world market share. The company was recently added to a Pentagon list of firms allegedly supported by the Chinese military. Unitree has previously partnered with Nvidia to use the Blackwell AI chip to power its robot “brains.”

In the energy sector, the ban targets a market where China is the world’s largest producer of inverters, led by Huawei and Sungrow Power Supply. While Huawei is already under heavy U.S. sanctions, Beijing has expanded its presence in Western markets by lowering prices. The FCC’s move follows similar actions taken by Europe and concerns regarding the installation of malware.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has additionally warned that Chinese AI firms may face U.S. sanctions for the theft of American intellectual property.

Scope and Implementation of the Ban

The restrictions apply to models of robots and power inverters that have not yet been commercialized and enter into effect immediately upon publication. However, the FCC maintains the authority to revoke sales authorizations for models that were previously approved for purchase in the U.S.

The following table summarizes the primary targets of the new restrictions:

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the measures.