WASHINGTON, Aug 6 - Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr said on Thursday that new restrictions targeting certain imports from China are meant to accelerate domestic production and address national security concerns.
The FCC last month implemented a ban on Chinese imports of new humanoid and quadruped robots as well as connected power inverters. The agency identified both categories as specific targets of the import restrictions. Carr explained the restrictions are designed to create a rapid incentive for companies and investors to bring manufacturing and related investment back to the United States.
Carr emphasized the speed and timing of the policy. His remarks framed the move as a present call to action for industry to "onshore a lot of the investment" and to develop manufacturing capabilities here that could become "critical elements of our national security."
"Were telling people that now is the time to onshore a lot of the investment and develop it into what could be critical elements of our national security," Carr said.
The FCCs ban covers two distinct technology groups. The first group comprises new humanoid robots and quadruped robots. The second group includes connected power inverters - pieces of equipment that enable renewable energy sources and batteries to interface with electrical grids and with equipment used in data centers. The agency moved to curb imports of these devices from China last month.
"We dont want to be in a situation five years from now where youve got many thousands or millions of these types of devices that are a national security risk," Carr added.
Carrs comments link the import restrictions explicitly to two goals: prompting rapid onshoring of investment and reducing potential national security vulnerabilities associated with widespread deployment of these devices. The measures target supply chains and equipment categories that the FCC has separately identified in the policy action taken last month.
Context and scope
The ban announced by the FCC last month singles out new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots and connected power inverters because of their roles in automation and energy integration. According to the FCC description, the inverters connect renewable sources and batteries to the grid and to data center equipment, underscoring the technologies intersection with energy and digital infrastructure.
Carrs public statements on Aug. 6 underline the administrations emphasis on shifting investment patterns and narrowing potential security exposures by promoting U.S.-based production for these device classes.