US Bans New Chinese Humanoid Robots and Power Inverters Over Security Risks

The Trump administration has banned the import of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as connected power inverters, to shield the United States from national security threats. The restrictions, announced on July 28, 2026, target hardware essential to the nation's AI buildout and critical infrastructure.

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the ban specifically targets new models that have not yet been released, though the agency maintains the authority to revoke authorizations for existing devices. The measures focus on hardware used within data centers and renewable energy grids. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency would "continue to do our part to secure America’s critical supply chains."

Strategic Decoupling

This move is part of a broader U.S. strategy to decouple critical AI and energy infrastructure from Chinese technology. The decision follows a trend of increasing scrutiny toward Chinese firms, including the addition of robotics companies to the Pentagon's list of military-backed firms. By restricting these imports, the U.S. aims to incentivize domestic manufacturing of robotics and power electronics to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries.

National Security Implications

The FCC cited several primary drivers for the ban, including supply-chain vulnerabilities, the risk of data theft, and the potential for cyberattacks. By restricting AI-enabled "brains" in humanoid robots and the power hardware that supports massive data centers, the U.S. intends to prevent industrial espionage and the remote commandeering of hardware. The government views these connected devices as potential entry points for foreign actors to disrupt the power grid or steal proprietary AI research.

Market and Diplomatic Fallout

This escalation in trade tensions comes as China has vowed to "resolutely retaliate" against what it describes as unilateral measures. While the ban primarily affects new authorizations, the threat of the FCC revoking existing permissions creates significant uncertainty for companies currently utilizing Chinese hardware in their infrastructure. Industry analysts expect the ban to hit leading Chinese humanoid-robot makers hardest, potentially shifting the global procurement landscape for AI-driven robotics.

Observers are now watching for China's formal response and whether the U.S. will expand these restrictions to other categories of connected hardware. It remains to be seen how quickly domestic manufacturers can scale to fill the gap in the power inverter and robotics markets.