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US government bans new foreign-made humanoids, robot dogs, and solar inverters, citing risks to national security
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- The Trump administration, through the FCC, has banned the import of new foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and power inverters, primarily targeting Chinese-made products due to national security concerns.
- The FCC cited risks such as remote control by foreign governments, surveillance, and potential cyberattacks as reasons for the ban, while allowing exceptions if devices are deemed safe.
- China dominates the global market for humanoid robots, which remain in early development, and power inverters are widely used in U.S. renewable energy systems; existing devices are not affected by the ban.
- This ban is part of broader U.S. measures against China, including prior restrictions on TikTok, foreign routers, and Chinese surveillance firms linked to human rights abuses.
- China condemned the ban and vowed to protect its businesses, with a high-profile meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump scheduled for September in Washington, D.C.
