FCC Bans New Imports Of Foreign Humanoid Robots And Power Inverters
The Federal Communications Commission banned new imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, quadruped robots and power inverters, citing national security concerns.[1]
U.S. officials said the action was driven by national security and worries about foreign supply chains.[2] The measure bars "new versions" of those devices from entering U.S. markets and targets foreign-made units.[1] China's Foreign Ministry called the step protectionist, saying it "will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers" and pledging to take "all measures necessary" to defend Chinese firms.[1]
China now holds roughly 85% of the global humanoid-robot market, and two Chinese firms led shipments in 2025.[1] Unitree and AGIBOT each shipped more than 5,000 of about 15,000 humanoid robots delivered worldwide in 2025, while U.S. companies such as Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred or less.[1]
Analysts say the humanoid-robot market could reach roughly $15 billion by 2030 and that lost U.S. access is unlikely to materially slow Chinese development because of its large domestic base and other export options.[1] Nvidia's June release of a humanoid reference design using a Unitree chassis underscores how the ban could disrupt U.S.-China tech collaborations.[1] Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang added that the inverter curbs do not stop use of installed devices or sales of previously approved models, which should limit near-term pressure on U.S. markets.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The FCC ban applies to new imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, quadruped robots and power inverters, and is aimed at 'new versions' of those imports.
- China now holds roughly 85% of the global humanoid-robot market; Chinese firms Unitree and AGIBOT each shipped more than 5,000 of the roughly 15,000 humanoid robots delivered worldwide in 2025, while U.S. firms like Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred or less.
- Analysts say the humanoid-robot market could reach about $15 billion by 2030 and that lost access to the U.S. market is unlikely to materially slow Chinese development because of its large domestic base and other export opportunities.
- Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang noted the inverter ban does not affect continued use of existing devices or sales of previously approved inverter models, which should limit near-term pressure on U.S. markets.
- Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said protectionist measures 'will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers' and pledged to take 'all measures necessary' to defend Chinese firms.
- Nvidia in June unveiled a humanoid-robot reference design that uses a chassis from Chinese firm Unitree, underscoring how the ban could disrupt U.S.–China tech collaborations.
- PBS places the FCC move within broader U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports — from past drone limits to proposed controls on Chinese open-source AI models — and warns it could add to tensions ahead of the planned Trump‑Xi summit in September 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article specifies that the FCC ban applies to new imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, quadruped robots and power inverters and that it targets 'new versions' of such imports.
- It reiterates that China holds roughly 85% of the global humanoid-robot market and notes that Chinese companies Unitree and AGIBOT each shipped more than 5,000 of the approximately 15,000 humanoid robots delivered worldwide in 2025, while U.S. firms like Tesla and Figure AI shipped only a few hundred or less.
- The story adds analyst estimates that China's humanoid-robot market could reach $15 billion by 2030 and that damaged access to the U.S. market will not materially slow Chinese development because of its large domestic base and other export opportunities.
- It cites Morningstar analyst Cheng Wang saying the inverter ban does not affect continued use of existing devices or selling previously approved inverter models, which should limit pressure on U.S. markets.
- China's Foreign Ministry response is detailed, including spokesperson Mao Ning's comment that protectionism 'will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers' and the pledge to take 'all measures necessary' to defend Chinese firms.
- The article notes that Nvidia in June unveiled a humanoid-robot reference design that uses a chassis from Chinese firm Unitree, highlighting that the ban could disrupt U.S.-China tech collaborations.
- It situates the FCC move within a broader pattern of U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports such as drones and prospective controls on Chinese open-source AI models, and notes that the step adds to potential flashpoints ahead of a planned Trump-Xi summit in September 2026.