The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added new models of foreign humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as power inverters, to the list of equipment banned from import and sale in the American market.
The agency stated that the decision aims to protect supply chains for the artificial intelligence industry and critical infrastructure from risks of cyber espionage and sabotage.
According to Reuters, the measures primarily target Chinese products. The restrictions apply only to new models that have not yet been approved for sale in the US. However, the FCC reserves the right to revoke licenses for already approved equipment in the future. Exceptions are expected for manufacturers from other countries, as previously occurred with routers and drones.
The regulator believes that modern robots can collect large amounts of data and, with remote access, could be used to monitor American enterprises and interfere with critical infrastructure. Similar concerns are expressed regarding imported inverters used in power grids, data centers, and energy storage systems.
“These devices can create vulnerabilities in supply chains that could undermine the economic and national security of the US, as well as pose a cybersecurity threat to America’s critical infrastructure,” the press release stated.
China Primarily Targeted
One of the main targets of the new measures could be the Chinese company Unitree, which holds about 20% of the global humanoid robot market. The manufacturer was recently listed as a military-linked company by the Pentagon.
US authorities have focused on Unitree’s collaboration with NVIDIA, through which the company’s robots have received support from an AI platform based on Blackwell chips. NVIDIA previously stated that data from the devices remains in the US, with primary customers being American universities and research organizations.
China is the world’s largest producer of inverters, with Sungrow Power Supply leading the segment. Huawei, already under strict US sanctions, is increasing its share in the western market for such products.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded to the FCC’s decision. The embassy “strongly urged the United States to listen to the objective and rational voices of the business communities of both countries” and to “stop maligning Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions.” The Chinese government “will take all necessary measures in response to any actions that significantly harm its interests,” the diplomats emphasized.
In July, the Trump administration resumed discussions on measures that could complicate the use of Chinese AI models with open weights.
Twenty-five companies, including Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft, signed an open letter to the authorities urging them not to impose restrictions.
