The United States has banned imports of foreign-made robots to protect national security and critical infrastructure.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on the 28th (local time) a complete ban on the import of new models of humanoid robots and quadrupedal robots
Inverter devices, which enable renewable energy sources and batteries to be connected to power grid and data center equipment, are also included in the import ban.
Regarding the import ban on robots, the FCC stated, “Data collected by advanced robotic devices could be exploited by malicious actors to surveil Americans, enhance foreign intelligence capabilities, or remotely hijack robots.”
It also pointed out that connected power inverters could be manipulated by foreign companies to arbitrarily shut down inverters connected to power grids and data centers, collect or leak data, and be exploited for cyberattacks.
Apart from security concerns, the move also appears aimed at protecting the supply chain of the U.S. AI industry
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated, “Under the guidance of President (Donald) Trump, the FCC will do its part to protect America's critical supply chains,” adding, “Through this action, the FCC is working closely with national security agencies to that end.”
The FCC's import ban applies to all imported products regardless of origin, but Reuters assessed that the measure is primarily targeted at China.
Reuters also analyzed that the move includes pressure to relocate overseas robot manufacturing facilities to the U.S.
However, the import ban does not affect the use of previously purchased devices by consumers or the sale of models approved in the past.
Additionally, federal government purchases and usage are unaffected by this measure, and exceptions are granted if manufacturers receive approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. did not respond to requests for comment.
