US bans foreign-made humanoid robots, targeting China over national
security
[July 29, 2026] By
CHAN HO-HIM
HONG KONG (AP) — The Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. said
on Tuesday it would ban the import of foreign-made humanoid robots in a
move that targets China, arguing they pose a national security risk.
The decision could strain bilateral relations as the technology race
between the two world leaders advances. China makes substantially more
humanoid robots than the U.S. and other competitors, and analysts
estimate that Chinese humanoid robots’ global market share has reached
roughly 85%.
The FCC’s ban includes new imports of humanoid robots, quadrupeds –
often referred to as four-legged robot dogs – as well as foreign-made
power inverters.
In making the decision, the FCC said these advanced robots produced in
foreign countries pose supply chain vulnerabilities to the U.S. as well
as cybersecurity and national security risks.
FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said in a statement that the move was to
“secure America’s critical supply chains.”
The United States has been taking steps to keep Chinese technology out
with recent bans on imports, including of Chinese-made drones. The U.S.
is also weighing restrictions on Chinese open-source artificial
intelligence models, at a time when Chinese AI is rapidly gaining
ground.
“It’s a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into (the)
Trump-Xi summit planned for September,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow
at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi
Jinping in September following their mid-May meeting in Beijing.
Last year, China accounted for around 85% of humanoid deployments
globally, according to Barclays, with its technological sector backed
strongly by state support and policy. Morgan Stanley analysts forecast
China’s humanoid robot market could reach $15 billion by 2030.
“Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs
faster than most overseas competitors,” said analyst Kangyuxiao Li at
Morningstar.
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A variety of robots are displayed at the World AI Conference in
Shanghai, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
 “Restricting their access to the
U.S. removes an important future market and protects U.S. developers
from potential price competition,” he said. “However, it will not
materially slow China’s overall humanoid development, given the size
of its domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export
markets.”
Of the around 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025,
Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s largest advanced robotics
companies, each shipped more than 5,000, while their U.S.
counterparts like Tesla and Figure AI each shipped a few hundred or
less, according to the technology research and advisory group Omdia.
When it comes to global markets, China is also targeting Europe, for
example, as a key market for its advanced robots including
humanoids, Omdia said.
China has pushed back and defended its technological advancements as
an opportunity for the world, rather than a threat, as countries
including the U.S. raise concerns over how a “China Shock 2.0” could
hurt their economies.
The latest U.S. ban could also potentially impact collaborations
between U.S. and Chinese technology companies, said Lian Jye Su, a
chief analyst at Omdia.
Nvidia, for example, in June revealed a humanoid robot reference
design which uses the humanoid chassis of Chinese robot maker
Unitree.
The Pentagon recently placed Unitree alongside several major Chinese
technology companies on its list of firms that it said have ties to
or aid the Chinese military, a claim that Beijing said it “firmly
opposes.”
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