Trump FCC bans new Chinese humanoid robots and inverters over security

The United States moved Tuesday to block imports of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots along with grid-connected power inverters, citing risks that networked devices could expose critical infrastructure and data to foreign surveillance or disruption.

The Federal Communications Commission added the categories to its Covered List under the 2020 Secure Networks Act after an interagency review convened by the Trump administration determined that foreign-produced systems create unacceptable supply-chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The order applies only to new models; devices already authorized or imported remain unaffected. Power inverters, which convert direct current from solar arrays and batteries into alternating current for the grid, were included because of their role in data centers and renewable energy systems.

National security officials stated that advanced robots collect extensive operational data and that reliance on overseas hardware leaves open vectors for manipulation or remote access. The same determination flagged inverters for potential malware insertion or remote shutdown, referencing prior incidents such as the Volt Typhoon campaign. An administration official said the policy seeks secure domestic supply chains for emerging technologies and supports reindustrialization.

Industry reactions split along supply-chain lines. Policy analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations described the step as a significant boost for U.S. robotics development, comparable to earlier drone restrictions. Several U.S. robotics executives and investors countered that nearly every active American project depends on Chinese components and that the ban could raise costs and slow software testing for domestic startups. One founder noted that quadruped platforms, unlike humanoids, have clearer defense applications.

China’s Foreign Ministry called the measures an overreach that politicizes trade and harms American companies and consumers. Beijing urged the United States to abandon what it termed groundless pretexts for sanctions. Unitree Robotics, a leading Chinese humanoid producer recently added to the Pentagon’s list of military-linked firms, did not comment; the company has supplied research institutions in the United States.

The restrictions mirror prior FCC actions on drones and routers by allowing conditional waivers for non-Chinese suppliers that meet U.S. content thresholds. Enforcement details, including any 65 percent domestic-component test, are contained in the underlying FCC order but were not elaborated in initial announcements.