The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has implemented a prohibition on the importation of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters due to national security concerns, targeting China specifically. Beijing swiftly criticized the U.S. for its protectionist stance. These actions are poised to strain relations with Beijing in light of an upcoming visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in September. China holds a dominant position in the global humanoid robot market, with an estimated market share of approximately 85 percent.
In addition to humanoid robots, the FCC’s ban extends to imports of quadruped robots, commonly known as four-legged robot dogs, citing cybersecurity and other national security risks posed by advanced robot imports. The reliance on offshore production of such equipment also exposes U.S. supply chains to vulnerabilities.
The ban on power inverters, essential for converting direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and used in various sectors like renewable energy, data centers, and household appliances, could have far-reaching consequences. FCC chair Brendan Carr emphasized on Tuesday that the objective was to safeguard critical U.S. supply chains, specifying that the bans pertain to “new versions” of these imports.
The FCC’s restrictions follow a series of U.S. measures targeting Chinese imports, including drones, and limitations on the export of advanced U.S. technology to China. There are considerations for regulating the use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models as Chinese AI continues to make significant advancements. Experts anticipate potential points of contention leading up to the Trump-Xi summit scheduled for September.
China has been rapidly integrating robots into various sectors, supported by favorable policies for its technology industry. Analysts project that China’s humanoid robot market could reach $15 billion US by 2030. While restricting Chinese access to the U.S. market may shield American developers from price competition, it is unlikely to impede China’s ongoing humanoid development given its robust domestic manufacturing capabilities and opportunities in other export markets.
Of the roughly 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, China’s prominent robotics companies Unitree and AGIBOT each delivered over 5,000 units, surpassing their U.S. counterparts like Tesla and Figure AI, which shipped only a few hundred or fewer, according to Omdia. Regarding the power inverter restrictions, Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang suggested that any impact on U.S. markets should be minimal, as it does not affect existing devices or previously approved models sold by Chinese companies.
In response to the U.S. actions, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized Washington for stretching the national security concept to suppress Chinese firms. China vowed to take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate interests of its businesses, expressing that protectionist policies would harm U.S. companies and consumers without enhancing U.S. competitiveness. The new bans could potentially disrupt collaborations between U.S. and Chinese tech firms, as highlighted by Omdia’s chief analyst Lian Jye Su. Notably, Nvidia unveiled a humanoid robot reference design in June that utilizes China’s Unitree humanoid chassis.
The Pentagon’s inclusion of Unitree and other Chinese tech companies on a list of entities with alleged military ties has stirred controversy, with Beijing rejecting these allegations.
