The United States just announced a ban on new imports of foreign made humanoid robots and power inverters a decision that hits China hardest, since the country pretty much dominates these markets.
The US Federal Communications Commission says the new ban is about national security, according to the Associated Press. This all comes right before Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to the US, where he will meet with President Donald Trump in September.
It is not the first time the US has cracked down on Chinese tech. Earlier, the FCC also banned Chinese made drones and put restrictions on exporting high end American tech to China. Now, China’s foreign ministry is firing back, accusing the US of using national security as a blanket excuse to stifle Chinese businesses. China said it plans to do whatever is needed to defend its companies. “Protectionism does not make America more competitive it just hurts US businesses and consumers,” said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
US Tightens Curbs on Chinese Tech
So, what products are on the list this time? The ban is not just about humanoid robots. It also covers quadruped robots or those four legged robot “dogs” and power inverters. These inverters play a big role in renewable energy, data centers, and even some home appliances, since they switch DC electricity to AC.
The FCC says letting these advanced robots into the US could open the door to cybersecurity threats, and that relying on overseas manufacturing makes American supply chains more fragile. The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, put it bluntly: this is about protecting America’s critical supply lines. He made it clear the ban applies to “new versions” of these imports.
Which Products Are Covered Under the Ban?
How does this affect China? The country holds about 85% of the global market for humanoid robots and has been expanding quickly, thanks to government support for tech. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, China’s humanoid market could hit $15 billion by 2030.
Chinese companies have been ramping up production and cutting costs faster than most global rivals, said analyst Kangyuxiao Li at Morningstar. While the US wants to restrict Chinese AI tech and keep Chinese robots out, Li pointed out that locking Chinese robots out of the US only shuts off an important market for them and protects American firms from fierce price competition.
Still, Li doubts these new rules will really slow China’s robot development, given how massive China’s domestic market and other export opportunities are. In 2025, companies shipped around 15,000 humanoid robots worldwide, and just two Chinese giants Unitree and AGIBOT were responsible for more than 10,000 of those. Both shipped over 5,000 each. By contrast, top US players like Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred, if that, according to Omdia, a research group quoted by AP.
