The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has made a decision to prohibit the import of new foreign-manufactured humanoid robots and power inverters due to concerns about national security risks, specifically targeting China. In response, Beijing has accused the U.S. of engaging in protectionist practices.
These measures are expected to strain relations with Beijing as Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to visit U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China currently holds a dominant position in the global humanoid robot market with an estimated market share of approximately 85%.
The ban imposed by the FCC also extends to new imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs. The agency highlights that the importation of advanced robots raises cybersecurity and other national security concerns, while offshore production of such equipment exposes U.S. supply chains to potential disruptions.
Additionally, the ban on power inverters, devices utilized to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and commonly used in renewable energy systems, data centers, and household appliances, could have significant implications. FCC chair Brendan Carr emphasized that the objective of these measures is to safeguard America’s critical supply chains, applying to “new versions” of the imports.
These bans by the FCC follow a series of restrictions imposed by the U.S. on Chinese product imports, including drones, as well as controls on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. The U.S. is also contemplating regulations on the utilization of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models, coinciding with China’s rapid advancements in AI technology.
China’s rapid integration of robots into various sectors, supported by favorable policies, has led analysts to 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 offer protection to American developers from potential price competition, it is unlikely to significantly impede China’s overall humanoid development due to its robust domestic manufacturing capabilities and opportunities in other export markets.
According to Omdia, in 2025, approximately 15,000 humanoid robots were shipped globally, with Unitree and AGIBOT, two prominent Chinese advanced robotics companies, each shipping over 5,000 units. In contrast, U.S. counterparts such as Tesla and Figure AI shipped a few hundred or fewer units.
Regarding the restrictions on power inverters, Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang suggests that the impact on U.S. markets is expected to be limited. The ban is unlikely to affect the continued use of existing devices or the sale of previously approved models by Chinese companies in the United States.
China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the U.S. action, asserting that Washington is using national security as a pretext to suppress Chinese enterprises. China has vowed to take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its businesses. The Ministry spokesperson criticized protectionist measures, stating that they do not enhance U.S. competitiveness and could harm American companies and consumers.
These new bans may disrupt collaborations between U.S. and Chinese technology firms, potentially affecting partnerships such as Nvidia’s humanoid robot reference design unveiled in June, which utilizes the humanoid chassis of China’s Unitree. The Pentagon recently identified Unitree and several other major Chinese technology companies as having ties to or aiding the Chinese military, a claim that Beijing has refuted.