US bans imports of foreign humanoid robots over security concerns:China calls move an attempt to suppress its companies

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has barred the import of new foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and power inverters, a move expected to primarily affect Chinese manufacturers that dominate the global market for these products. The FCC said the decision was taken to address national security and cybersecurity risks and to secure America’s critical supply chains. The ban comes ahead of a proposed meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, and is expected to add to existing tensions between Washington and Beijing. The restrictions will apply only to new versions of the affected products. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the measure is aimed at protecting critical infrastructure. The order covers humanoid robots, robotic dogs, and power inverters, which convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) and are widely used in renewable energy systems, data centres, and household electrical equipment. China currently dominates the global humanoid robot industry, accounting for an estimated 85% of the market. According to Morgan Stanley, China’s humanoid robot market could grow to $15 billion by 2030. Market research firm Omdia reported that around 15,000 humanoid robots were shipped globally in 2025, with Chinese companies Unitree and AGIBOT accounting for more than 5,000 units. By comparison, US firms such as Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred units or fewer. Reacting to the decision, China’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of using national security as a pretext to suppress Chinese companies. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing would take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, arguing that protectionist policies would ultimately harm American companies and consumers rather than strengthen US competitiveness. Industry experts said the restrictions could also impact technological collaboration between American and Chinese firms. In June, Nvidia unveiled a humanoid robot design that incorporated a chassis developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree. The Pentagon has since added Unitree to a list of companies it alleges have links to the Chinese military, an allegation that Beijing has denied.