US bans import of Chinese humanoid robots and solar inverters, citing espionage risk

The ban at a glance

The US Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday a ban on imports of new foreign-made mobile robots and networked solar inverters. The rule, which took effect immediately upon publication, covers two-legged humanoid robots and four-legged models that weigh more than two kilograms, can navigate autonomously, avoid obstacles, and are equipped with sensors and network connectivity. Existing models already approved by the FCC may still be imported and used. Stationary industrial robots are explicitly excluded from the prohibition.

National security rationale

The FCC justified the measure by pointing to the network capabilities of the devices. The agency warned that the robots could be misused for espionage or surveillance of Americans, or be remotely hijacked. Inverters, which convert direct current from solar panels into alternating current for the grid, pose similar risks: their network connections could allow hackers to shut them down or collect data. The FCC statement said the targeted equipment could create supply-chain vulnerabilities that threaten US economic and national security. The ban is also intended to bring production of key technologies back to the United States.

Chinese manufacturers in the crosshairs

Although the rule is formally aimed at all foreign suppliers, it is widely seen as a direct blow to Chinese companies. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. The ban is expected to hit Unitree especially hard. The Chinese robotics firm holds nearly a fifth of the global market, according to Counterpoint Research. Unitree recently entered a partnership with US chip giant Nvidia and was placed by the Pentagon on a list of companies allegedly supported by the Chinese military. The company was not immediately reachable for comment, Reuters reported.

The wider tech race

Humanoid and four-legged robots are considered a major future business, with companies in the United States and China racing to develop them. Silicon Valley firm Figure AI already deploys some of its robots for simple tasks on production lines. At Tesla, CEO Elon Musk plans to start manufacturing the Optimus robot this year.

By far the biggest product of all time.

The US authorities want to avoid a dependency similar to that on rare earths, which Beijing has used as a geopolitical lever in the past. Security experts also warn of espionage and sabotage through networked robots.

Inverters and the energy sector

The import ban also covers networked inverters, a central component of solar power systems. Chinese suppliers dominate the global market for these devices. The FCC cited the same network-related risks: the technology could be switched off remotely or abused for data collection. The move is part of a broader effort to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.

Scope and grey areas

The US government defines a mobile robot as a device heavier than two kilograms that can move autonomously, avoid obstacles, and possesses sensors, network connectivity, and autonomous navigation software. This definition could also capture advanced robot vacuum cleaners, a segment where Chinese providers have overtaken US pioneer iRobot. The rule applies only to models not yet on the market; already certified devices remain unaffected.