According to Reuters, the Trump administration announced a ban on new types of robots and inverter devices from China on July 28 local time. The ban is aimed at protecting the United States' artificial intelligence capabilities from so-called 'national security threats' and at encouraging key industries to return to manufacturing.
On the 28th, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission updated its ‘Regulated List’, announcing that foreign-made ‘advanced robotic devices’ (such as humanoid robots and quadruped robots) as well as grid-connected inverters will be included in the list.
The FCC stated in a statement: “These devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities, thereby damaging the economy and national security of the United States, and posing cyber risks to critical infrastructure in the US.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said: "The FCC will continue to fulfill its responsibility to ensure the security of key U.S. supply chains."
In the eyes of foreign media, the actions of the Trump administration are undoubtedly aimed at China. The American “Politico News Network” stated that this aligns with two priorities during Trump’s second presidential term: curbing China’s competition in the field of artificial intelligence, and preventing China from gaining dominance in clean energy technology, which is becoming a global leader.
Some analysts predict that humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence “brains” will be widely used in consumer and industrial fields. Additionally, the rapid construction of data centers in the United States will also depend on a stable and reliable supply of inverters.
Reuters quoted four people familiar with the matter, saying that the FCC is expected to exempt many non-Chinese suppliers from relevant 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 authorization granted for models that have been approved for sale in the United States.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that by 2050, the market for humanoid robots could reach $5 trillion. The import ban imposed by the Trump administration could give American companies a competitive advantage.
According to The Washington Post, Trump’s sons have entered the humanoid robot industry, investing in a defense and robotics company focused on producing products domestically in the United States.
In recent years, the U.S. government has been trying to reduce its reliance on Chinese-made equipment under the pretext of “national security”. Recently, many Chinese companies, including the robotics company Yushi Technology, have been included by the U.S. on what is called the “Chinese Military Enterprises List”.
In response to the unreasonable actions of the United States, China has firmly countered them. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China has always been firmly opposed to the US tendency to generalize the concept of national security and to create discriminatory lists under various pretexts, as well as its unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises. We urge the US to correct its wrongful practices and stop its unreasonable actions against Chinese enterprises. China will take necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
