Experts react to FCC limits on U.S. imports of new humanoid and mobile robots

A Unitree humanoid robot at the China Humanoid Robot Conference in Seoul. S. government is restricting imports of certain robots and connected power inverters produced in foreign countries.

” The FCC said it has determined that foreign-made “advanced robotic devices,” including mobile robots such as humanoids and quadrupeds , could create supply chain vulnerabilities and pose a cybersecurity risk to American critical infrastructure. S. Department of War or Department of Homeland Security.

The ruling does not affect sales, marketing, or use of devices already acquired or models that have already received FCC equipment authorization. In addition, the ban on new devices does not apply to federal purchases. Software updates for foreign-supplied systems can get approval with a waiver .

S. has been rebuilding production capability after losing most of it to China about a decade ago. S.

history,” wrote Evan Beard , CEO of Standard Bots , on LinkedIn. S. ” “As America’s largest AI-native industrial robot manufacturer by units shipped, Standard Bots strongly supports this move,” he stated.

S. manufacturing. S.

robotics policy . The prohibition on inverters would affect only mobile robot joints with wireless access, focusing on grid cybersecurity and not industrial robots, Beard told The Robot Report . , and a 2026 Joseph F.

Engelberger Robotics Awards honoree . Unitree filed for a $610 million initial public offering in China in March. ’ The answer appears to be that the administration believes the risk extends beyond any one company because of the Chinese government’s authority over companies operating in China,” Little told The Robot Report .

“There are other concerns, including the massive subsidies that have created unfair competition,” he added. “But in my view, nothing is more important than cybersecurity. These robots are mobile, connected computers with cameras, microphones, and sensors.

S. robotics companies compete with China? The FCC claimed that the ban on certain mobile robots and power inverters is country-neutral.

S. Department of Commerce is also considering tariffs on imported robotics, industrial machinery, and personal protective equipment. However, several industry observers said it targets China , which has more than half of the world’s industrial robot installations and has shipped 80% to 90% of humanoid robots to date.

A bill introduced in November 2025 would prohibit the federal government from buying humanoids with AI from military suppliers to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Protectionist policies also pose risks while encouraging domestic robotics production. S.

presence in recent years. S. physical AI innovation by cutting startups and researchers off from future low-cost Chinese platforms before comparable Western alternatives exist,” said Georg Stieler , a global robotics advisor and managing director for Asia at STM.

S. S. or obtain conditional approval,” he told The Robot Report .

” “Key dependencies remain upstream: actuators, reducers, batteries, sensors and rare-earth permanent magnets,” Stieler observed. ” “America’s experience with DJI is cautionary. S.

still lacks a competitive mass-market consumer-drone producer, and Skydio exited the consumer market in 2023 ,” he said. S. Robotics,” whose latest edition was released in 2024 , warned: “Note the ban is potentially much wider than China.

Canadian [and] European robots could be impacted. S. S.

innovation more than global humanoid market The trade restrictions are unlikely to affect the race to develop humanoids and enabling AI , according to one market researcher. S. market,” stated Rueben Scriven, senior research manager at Interact Analysis .

S. manufacturers seeking to produce robots in China or other countries,” he said. S.

S. S. market through promotional and entertainment use cases — an effect this policy risks undermining,” said Scriven.

S. policy and humanoid robotics development, which will be among the topics discussed at RoboBusiness in October in Santa Clara, Calif. S.

imports of new humanoid and mobile robots appeared first on The Robot Report .