Regarding the announcement by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to impose import restrictions on advanced robots manufactured abroad, including humanoid robots where China holds a dominant position, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on the 29th that China has always firmly opposed the U.S. from generalizing national security concepts and suppressing Chinese enterprises. Protectionism does not enhance America’s competitiveness; instead, it only harms the interests of American businesses and consumers. China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration announced a ban on new Chinese robots and inverter devices on July 28 local time. The ban is aimed at protecting the United States' artificial intelligence infrastructure from so-called 'national security threats' and at encouraging key industries to shift manufacturing back to the US.
On the 28th, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its “Regulated List”, announcing that foreign-produced “advanced robotic devices” (such as humanoid robots and quadruped robots) and grid-connected inverters will be included in the list.
The FCC said in a statement: “These devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities, thereby undermining the economic and national security of the United States, and posing cyber risks to critical infrastructure in the U.S.”
In the eyes of foreign media, the actions of the Trump administration are undoubtedly aimed at China. The US “Politico News Network” states that this aligns with two of Trump’s priorities during his second presidential term: curbing China’s competition in the field of artificial intelligence, and preventing China from taking a leading role in clean energy technologies worldwide.
Some analysts predict that humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence “brains” will be widely used in consumer and industrial fields. Additionally, the rapid growth of data centers in the United States will also rely on a stable and reliable supply of inverters.
According to four sources familiar with the matter, it is expected that the FCC will exempt many non-Chinese suppliers from certain restrictions. This is consistent with recent U.S. regulations banning the use of foreign drones and routers.
These measures take effect immediately from the date of publication and apply only to robots and inverters that have not yet been launched on the market. However, the FCC has the authority to revoke the approvals granted for models that have already been approved for sale in the United States.
