US Federal Communications Commission Blocks Chinese Robotics Imports

FCC Chairperson Brendan Carr framed the decision as a necessary step to secure critical infrastructure, specifically targeting new iterations of advanced hardware. The restrictions arrive after a series of US actions aimed at limiting Chinese technology, ranging from drone import bans to limitations on advanced chip exports. Beijing responded sharply to the announcement, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning labeling the policy as protectionism that threatens to harm US consumers and domestic businesses alike.

Market data underscores the scale of the shift. Last year, China’s Unitree and AGIBOT dominated the global market, shipping over 10,000 humanoid units combined, while US firms such as Tesla and Figure AI reported significantly lower volumes. Analysts suggest the ban functions primarily as a shield for US developers against lower-cost Chinese manufacturing, though experts like Morningstar’s Kangyuxiao Li note it is unlikely to stall China’s internal development given their massive domestic industrial base. The impact on the power sector remains uncertain, as the current directive does not apply to existing equipment or previously approved models. Nevertheless, the policy creates friction for cross-border collaborations, including reference designs that integrate Chinese chassis technology with US software, effectively forcing a decoupling of integrated supply chains.