The Trump administration has announced new import restrictions on Chinese-made advanced robots - specifically humanoid and quadruped models - and on connected power inverters, implementing the measures through the Federal Communications Commission.
Officials framed the bans as responses to national security threats associated with artificial intelligence and energy supply chains. Regulators described the actions as steps to reduce risks such as data theft, cyberattacks, and the potential for disruptions to critical infrastructure.
The administration said the restrictions are designed, in part, to motivate companies to move manufacturing operations to the United States rather than retain production abroad.
Scope of the restrictions
Regulators signaled that the robotics targeted are sophisticated platforms that combine artificial intelligence with sensors and continuous data processing. The concern, as explained by officials, is that connectivity systems embedded in foreign-made machines could provide pathways for corporate espionage, unauthorized collection of sensitive data, or remote-control vulnerabilities.
Connected power inverters - devices that convert direct current from renewable energy sources and battery systems into alternating current for electrical grids and data centers - were also singled out. The administration characterizes these components as critical pieces of the computing infrastructure that supports AI models, and therefore points to the need for greater control over their provenance.
The FCC emphasized the importance of securing hardware that delivers power to data centers to guard against possible supply chain manipulation and cyber threats that could affect the energy grid.
Policy context
Officials described the import bans as part of a broader policy approach aimed at separating U.S. supply chains from China in sectors viewed as strategically important. The measures focus on hardware that intersects both advanced computing and energy delivery systems, reflecting policymakers' concerns about the intersection of AI capabilities and the physical infrastructure that supports them.
Summary
The U.S. government, via the FCC, announced import bans on Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots and on connected power inverters, citing national security risks tied to AI, data integrity, and energy supply-chain vulnerabilities. The measures are also intended to encourage reshoring of manufacturing to the United States.