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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is banning imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks, in a move that targets China. Beijing quickly accused the U.S. of protectionism.
The measures are likely to test relations with Beijing ahead of a planned U.S. visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China dominates the global market for humanoid robots with an estimated market share of roughly 85%.
The FCC’s ban also includes new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs. The agency says imports of advanced robots pose cybersecurity and other national security risks. Offshore production of such equipment also leaves U.S. supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.
The ban on power inverters, which are used to convert direct current, or DC, electricity into alternating current, or AC, electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers and household appliances, could have sweeping ramifications.
Just the latest restrictions on Chinese imports
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said Tuesday that the move was to “secure America’s critical supply chains.” He said the bans apply to “new versions” of such imports.
The FCC’s bans follow a slew 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 use of Chinese open-source 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,” says Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.
China has been rapidly expanding the use of robots, with policies supporting its technology sector. Morgan Stanley analysts forecast its market for humanoids could reach $15 billion by 2030.
The Associated Press has the full story.
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