US bans foreign-made humanoid robot imports

The Trump administration added humanoid and quadruped robots made abroad to a list of products and companies barred from import into the United States on national security grounds, the Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday.

The FCC said “advanced robotic devices” were added to the list, including mobile robots that mimic how humans and animals walk by standing on two or four legs. Certain drones, Huawei and China Telecom were already on the list.

A White House task force concluded that foreign-built robots could create “a cybersecurity risk that threatens the security of critical infrastructure” and “the safety and security” of US residents. The Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security can grant exemptions.

The decision applies only to new models, not robots already sold or authorised in the United States. A Trump administration official said the ban covers fully assembled robots and those assembled on US soil with more than 35 percent of their components manufactured abroad.

Most humanoid robots sold in the United States are manufactured abroad, particularly in China. Most are currently used for industrial applications in confined spaces, such as automobile factories or storage warehouses.

The FCC also added foreign-made inverters to the list. Inverters can convert direct current from batteries or solar panels into standard alternating current used by the electrical grid.

Several robotics companies already manufacture or assemble some humanoid robots in the United States, including Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics. Hyundai has announced plans to build a US robotics factory that would eventually be able to produce 30,000 units per year.