On Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on imports of new humanoid robots and power inverters from China, citing "unacceptable risks" to US national security. The ban targets "advanced robotic devices," including humanoid and animal-like quadruped robots, as well as connected power inverters that link renewable energy sources and batteries to grids and datacenter equipment.

The FCC expressed concerns that these advanced robotic devices collect data that could be exploited by malign actors to surveil Americans, enhance foreign intelligence capabilities, or remotely commandeer the robots. Additionally, the FCC noted that the remote connectivity features of power inverters introduce vulnerabilities that increase as inverter-based resources proliferate across the US grid.

This move aligns with the Trump administration's broader strategy to keep Chinese technology out of the US and promote domestic manufacturing. An administration official told Reuters, "The President has made clear that the United States must have independent and secure supply chains for critical and emerging technologies like robotic devices and power inverters." The official added, "Economic security is national security, and the Trump administration continues to implement a nuanced and multi-faceted policy agenda to reindustrialize America."

The ban applies only to new imports and does not affect devices already purchased. Analysts forecast that AI-enabled humanoid robots will see broad adoption in consumer and industrial sectors, while growing datacenter construction in the US will rely on reliable inverter sources. China remains the world's largest manufacturer of inverters, led by companies such as Sungrow Power Supply and Huawei, which are already heavily sanctioned by the US.

Sources