US import ban on foreign mobile robots takes effect

The US government defines mobile robots as technical devices weighing more than two kilograms that can move on their own, avoid obstacles, and have sensors, network connectivity, and software for autonomous navigation. This description could also apply to advanced models of robotic vacuum cleaners. Among other things, future models of bipedal and quadrupedal robots are to be approved only with special authorization, for example from the Department of Defense.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) cited the network capabilities of the robots as justification. These could be misused for espionage or surveillance of Americans — and to remotely control the robots. There is also the risk that foreign intelligence services could expand their capabilities or take over the robots remotely. The agency justifies the move as unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States.

The FCC's security rationale

According to the FCC, these systems collect data that could be used by malicious actors to surveil US citizens. The FCC says the measure is intended to bring the production of key technologies back to the United States. It is also intended to protect the domestic infrastructure for artificial intelligence from data theft and cyberattacks.

A representative of the US government told the Reuters news agency that economic security is understood as national security and that independent supply chains are to be built. This will primarily block Chinese manufacturers from accessing the US market — and shield American developers from their competition. The measure is part of efforts by the Trump administration under President Donald Trump to keep Chinese technology out of the US market.

Economic background and Trump's course

Bipedal humanoid robots and quadrupedal models reminiscent of large dogs are considered a major business of the future. Many companies are working on them, particularly in the United States and China. According to experts, humanoid robots equipped with AI-controlled systems are on the verge of broad deployment in industry and private households. Some robots from the Silicon Valley firm Figure AI, for example, are being used for simple tasks on production lines.

Chinese companies are among the world's leading suppliers in this field. The Chinese manufacturer Unitree, which according to market researcher Counterpoint Research controls nearly one-fifth of the global market, is one of the driving forces. Beijing announced that it would take necessary measures to protect its own interests. The Chinese embassy in Washington urged the United States to listen to rational voices from the business community.

Reactions from Beijing

The Chinese mission further stated that the US government should stop slandering Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions. The newspaper Global Times quoted industry observer Xiang Ligang as saying that the US measures testify to a deep uncertainty about shrinking technological leads. According to FCC data, the ban does not target any specific country.

Washington is also tightening its course in other technology areas. In addition to robots, the regulation affects connected inverters. These components link renewable energy sources and battery storage systems to the power grid and to facilities in data centers. Inverters convert the direct current generated by solar modules into alternating current so that it can be fed into the public power grid.

Parallel ban on inverters

In addition to robots, the FCC also banned the import of inverters, a central component for solar power systems. Here, too, the FCC cited risks from network connectivity, through which the technology could be switched off or misused for data collection. This will also primarily affect Chinese suppliers, who are leading the global market.

In May of last year, investigations of inverters from China in the United States uncovered undocumented communication devices. US energy authorities then wanted to reassess the risk posed by Chinese inverters. Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) also warned that "die Zentralregierung in Peking über die internetfähigen Komponenten von Solaranlagen direkten Einfluss auf einen systemrelevanten Teil der deutschen Stromversorgung" nehmen könne.

Market for humanoid robots and Tesla's Optimus

This is a business segment in which Chinese suppliers have beaten the US pioneer iRobot. The ban covers advanced robotic devices, which include not only humanoid models but also quadrupedal units. At electric car maker Tesla, CEO Elon Musk wants to start production of the Optimus robot this year, which he has already announced as "by far the biggest product of all time."

This news was broadcast on July 29, 2026 on Deutschlandfunk. According to The Guardian, the US telecommunications authority Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is prohibiting the approval of new humanoid robots from China. The measure is part of the larger context of trade policy tensions between Washington and Beijing.

With this step, the US government is pursuing two goals: on the one hand, to strengthen the domestic industry; on the other, to minimize risks from networked devices of Chinese origin. Industry observers see it as another building block of a protectionist industrial policy that places technological sovereignty above open markets. - Oliver Bünte - with material from dpa