US bans imports of Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots over security concerns
The US Federal Communications Commission banned imports of Chinese humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and power inverters on July 28, 2026, citing national security risks including potential data collection for espionage and remote control by foreign actors. China condemned the ban as discriminatory protectionism and threatened retaliatory action.
What happened
The Federal Communications Commission announced on July 28, 2026 that the United States would ban imports of Chinese humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and power inverters on grounds of national security.
The FCC stated that these devices pose risks to critical infrastructure, could collect sensitive data for foreign intelligence purposes, and could be controlled remotely by foreign actors. Unitree Robotics was identified as a major producer targeted by the ban, and researchers had identified security vulnerabilities in Unitree robots including hacking via voice commands.
Reported impact
The Trump administration views the ban as necessary to reduce dependence on Chinese technology and protect AI development and strategic supply chains. China accounts for approximately 85% of global humanoid robot production according to Barclays Bank.
The Chinese government condemned the policy as discriminatory and protectionist, demanding the removal of restrictions and threatening retaliation if the United States continued unilateral action.
Index analysis
The ban targets companies including Unitree, which is listed by the Pentagon as having ties to the Chinese military and whose robots have been used in military exercises. The FCC expressed concern that large-scale deployment of Chinese robots could collect real-world data transmitted to Chinese AI systems.
However, most commercial humanoid robots remain in early development stages, making these threats largely theoretical according to the sources.
Governance controls
The ban applies to new models of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots and power inverters, as part of a broader Trump administration strategy to strengthen US competitiveness in AI and reduce reliance on Chinese technology in strategic sectors such as power grids, renewable energy, and data centers.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.