In brief
On Tuesday the Trump administration announced a ban on new imports of foreign‑made advanced robots, including humanoid models, pointing to unacceptable security risks. The FCC also added power inverters to its covered list, arguing they could be hacked or used for espionage. Chinese officials denounced the move as politicised trade, while U.S. officials stressed protecting critical supply chains. The ban does not affect existing authorised models and reflects broader U.S. push to limit China’s AI and robotics gains.
Trump bans new Chinese humanoid robots
The Trump administration announced Tuesday a ban on new imports of foreign‑made advanced robots, including humanoid and four‑legged models, citing national‑security risks.
The FCC also added power inverters—devices used in data centres and solar panels—to the covered list because they could be hacked or used for espionage.
Chinese officials accused the U.S. of politicising trade and threatened counter‑measures, while U.S. officials said they were safeguarding critical supply chains.
The ban does not affect existing models that were authorised before the ruling.
The move reflects a broader U.S. push to limit China’s AI and robotics gains and to maintain American leadership in emerging tech.
Image: VCG via Getty Images.
