Washington bans imports of foreign humanoid robots for security reasons.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday a ban on importing new humanoid and quadruped robots from abroad into the United States, citing "unacceptable" risks to national security. The measure primarily targets devices of Chinese origin.

The decision, announced on July 29, applies to advanced next-generation robots, whether they walk on two or four legs, as well as power inverters used in data centers and solar panels. This equipment has been added to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "Covered List," the U.S. registry of products deemed dangerous to national security.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr justified the measure by stating that the agency was doing its part to "secure America's critical supply chains." The ban only applies to new models; devices already approved by the FCC can continue to be sold and imported.

US authorities fear that robots manufactured abroad could allow "malicious actors to monitor Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or remotely take control of machines." Regarding uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), the FCC is concerned that they could be remotely disabled, exploited to steal data, or facilitate a cyberattack.

Beijing reacted firmly. The Chinese embassy in Washington denounced the "politicization" of trade by the United States and its sanctions based on "baseless pretexts." It warned that China "will take all necessary measures" to defend its interests, calling on Washington to "abandon its hegemonic mindset."

This decision is part of a technological and commercial escalation between the two powers. The United States has already blocked the export of advanced semiconductors to China and imposed prohibitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also threatened Chinese artificial intelligence companies with sanctions for alleged theft of American intellectual property.

China is now the world's leading manufacturer of humanoid robots. Companies like Unitree, UBTech, and AgiBot have rapidly commercialized their machines for businesses and individuals, outpacing American competitors such as Elon Musk's Tesla and Boston Dynamics. Beijing has reiterated that the development of Chinese AI is "the result of its own efforts and international cooperation."