US bans Chinese humanoid robots, citing “unacceptable risks to national security”
No more foreign imports of humanoid robots.
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- The FCC has added advanced robotic devices (humanoids, quadrupeds) and connected power inverters to its "Covered List," prohibiting their authorization in the US.
- Officials cite "unacceptable risks" to national security, warning that these devices can facilitate data collection, surveillance, and cyberattacks.
- The ban applies to new device models, while the federal government's use and previously approved devices remain unaffected.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a broad ban on foreign-made advanced robotic devices, including humanoids and quadrupeds, as well as connected power inverters.
The FCC added the new product categories to its Covered List, meaning they will not receive authorization and will be prohibited from importation, marketing, or sale in the US.
The regulator explains that this update follows “determinations by executive branch agencies that these devices threaten national security.”
The Trump administration determined that reliance on foreign-produced robotic devices is unacceptable because it poses a supply chain and cybersecurity risk. They enable data collection that later can be exploited by threat actors to surveil Americans and expand the capabilities of foreign intelligence services.
“It is vital that we have a secure domestic supply chain and industrial base for advanced robots,” reads the national security determination document.
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The advanced robotic devices are defined as mobile devices capable of locomotion, obstacle avoidance, navigation, or movement on the ground that also operate at a distance from a human operator, have a combined weight of over 4.4 lbs, and contain sensors, connectivity components, and software for autonomous operation.
“The networked capabilities of advanced robotic systems create extensive vulnerabilities and vectors for attacks that can manipulate the data and physical operation of the advanced robotic system,” the FCC’s document reads.
Meanwhile, connected power inverters proliferate on the US grid and threaten economic and national security, because they have remote connectivity and potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by foreign actors to collect data, facilitate remote access, and conduct cyberattacks.
Inverters are defined as bidirectional power devices that convert DC to AC electricity, including microinverters and hybrid (battery-based) inverters, which contain components enabling remote communication, such as WiFi, cellular, Bluetooth, or other technologies.
China is a leading manufacturer of both technologies. Similar previous FCC bans on foreign-made drones and routers revealed a significant lack of domestic US alternatives, leading to the issuance of exemptions and extensions.
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Similarly, advanced robots and inverters will be able to get an exception – a “Conditional Approval,” granted after finding that devices “do not pose such unacceptable risks.” FCC urges producers to submit applications for this approval.
The ban doesn’t affect devices already purchased or models previously approved through the FCC’s equipment authorization process – retailers can continue to import, market, and sell these models. The restrictions only apply to new device models.
“It also does not impact purchase or use by the federal government at all,” FCC notes.
FCC wasn’t alone in the decision – the unacceptable national security risks were determined by the “White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body.”
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Most electronic devices require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the US. The Covered List lists the equipment and services that are prohibited from getting authorization, because they pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the US.
Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components from foreign countries have been added to the list since December last year, while foreign routers have been included since March 23rd, 2026.
The list also includes telecommunications equipment and services from Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation, video surveillance tech from Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology, security solutions from Kaspersky Lab, telecom services from China Mobile International USA, China Telecom (Americas), Pacific Networks, ComNet (USA), and China Unicom (Americas) Operations, and Digitalsystem Technology.