US Bans Imports of New Chinese Humanoid Robots to Guard Against AI Supply Chain Risks

The US government announced on Tuesday (July 28) that it is banning imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters to guard against national security risks facing the US artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain and to push for the return of critical industries to the United States.

According to Reuters, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the relevant measures that day, banning imports of new Chinese humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and networked power inverters used to connect renewable energy and batteries to power grids and data center equipment.

This measure shows that the Trump administration is strengthening protection of the US AI supply chain, guarding against risks such as supply disruptions, data theft, and cyberattacks, while pushing companies to move production to the United States.

The FCC said in a statement that these devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities, impact the US economy and national security, and pose cybersecurity risks that threaten critical infrastructure.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also said: "The FCC will continue to do everything in its power to protect the security of the US critical supply chain." Some analysts predict that humanoid robots equipped with AI "brains" will be widely used in consumer and industrial fields in the future.

As US data center construction expands rapidly, the market will also become more dependent on a stable and reliable supply of inverters.

The new measures take effect immediately after announcement, but apply only to robot and inverter models that have not yet been launched.

However, the FCC has the authority to revoke authorization for existing models already approved for sale in the United States.

Separately, according to four people familiar with the matter, the FCC is expected to exempt many non-Chinese suppliers, similar to its recent restrictions on foreign drones and routers.

The report said the ban is expected to hit Chinese robot manufacturer Unitree.

Data from market research firm Counterpoint Research shows that Unitree is a global leader in humanoid robots, with a market share of nearly one-fifth.

Unitree recently reached a partnership with Nvidia, using the latter's advanced Blackwell chips to drive the robots' AI "brains." Nvidia says the data collected by the robots will remain in the United States, and Unitree's main customers in the US are academic and research institutions.

However, US China hawks worry that these robots could be used to surveil US critical industries, transmit data to Beijing, or even interfere with the operation of important facilities.