United States Import Ban on Foreign-Origin Robotic Devices and Power Inverters

United States Ban on Importation of Foreign-Produced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters is a regulation that came into effect when the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added to its Covered List on July 28, 2026 foreign-produced "advanced robotic devices" (including mobile robots such as humanoid and quadruped robots) and associated power inverters. ^【1】 The regulation is based on national security assessments conducted by an interagency executive branch committee convened by the White House, which determined that these devices pose "unacceptable risks" to national security or the safety of United States citizens.

The decision prevents new foreign-produced robotic devices and power inverters from obtaining FCC equipment authorization. According to international news agencies and press reports, the regulation primarily targets products originating from the People's Republic of China.

The decision blocks new foreign-produced robotic devices and power inverters from obtaining FCC equipment authorization, and reports indicate that the regulation specifically targets products from the People's Republic of China, which holds a leading global position in the production of humanoid robots and power inverters. ^【2】

The FCC's Covered List is a list of communications equipment and services deemed to pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of U.S. citizens. ^【3】 Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Commission may update this list only upon the direction of authorized national security agencies and does not have the authority to update it on its own initiative. Equipment on the Covered List is prohibited from obtaining FCC equipment authorization.

Most electronic devices imported into, marketed, or sold in the United States must first obtain FCC equipment authorization; equipment on the Covered List cannot receive new authorization, thereby blocking new devices from entering the U.S. market. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages organizations to use the Covered List in regulatory compliance efforts for risk management analysis.

The FCC implemented this update based on separate national security determinations for both robots and power inverters. These determinations found that all advanced robotic devices and power inverters produced in foreign countries, regardless of the manufacturer’s nationality, create an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of U.S. citizens. ^【4】

According to the FCC’s definition, an "advanced robotic device" is a mechanical mobile device weighing more than 4.4 pounds (approximately 2 kilograms) that possesses locomotion, obstacle detection, navigation, or ground-movement capabilities; operates remotely from a human operator or supervisor based on commands, sensor data, or a combination thereof; and includes autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots, and quadruped robots.

According to the definition, such a device must also include each of the following components:

• A sensor capable of perceiving its environment
• A wired or wireless network connectivity component (including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, or satellite) capable of bidirectional communication at a minimum speed of 200 kbps
• Software (including firmware and artificial intelligence/machine learning model weights) that runs locally or remotely and manages the robot’s autonomous navigation or movement through perception, data collection, or remote command-and-control functions ^【5】

Excluded from the definition are connected vehicles, vehicles operating solely on rail systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicle systems, autonomous underwater vehicles operating without human presence, medical devices classified under Section 513 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (including surgical instruments and mobility aids such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs), and stationary, non-mobile robots used for industrial or medical purposes (including articulated, parallel/delta, Cartesian/portal, or SCARA robots).

A "power inverter" is defined as a bidirectional power device or system that converts direct current electricity to alternating current electricity or vice versa, including microinverters, string inverters, central inverters, and hybrid (battery-based) inverters. It must also include components enabling remote communication, control, sensing, data collection, or monitoring via Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, or similar connections. ^【6】

The term "foreign-produced" applies to both advanced robotic devices and power inverters, and encompasses any product that does not meet the definition of a "domestic end product" under 48 CFR § 25.101(a). The nationality of the manufacturing entity is not determinative in classifying a device as foreign-produced.

Regarding the national security determination for power inverters, it was determined that the absence of a secure U.S. supply chain for inverters, combined with the continuous influx of foreign-produced or foreign-controlled inverters and their components, poses a threat to U.S. economic and national security. It was also noted that the remote connectivity of inverters creates additional security vulnerabilities as their deployment becomes more widespread across the U.S. grid.

These vulnerabilities could enable foreign entities to shut down inverters or use them to exfiltrate data, gain remote access and surveillance, or exploit them via cyberattacks. Based on these findings, it was determined that foreign-produced power inverters create a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economic security, including critical sectors, and constitute a cybersecurity risk threatening the security of critical infrastructure and the safety of U.S. citizens.

Regarding the national security determination for advanced robotic devices, it was stated that the networked capabilities of these systems create extensive security gaps and attack vectors capable of manipulating their data and physical operations. Dependence on foreign-produced advanced robotic devices was found to introduce unacceptable supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. According to the determination, these devices collect "data that could be used by malicious actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or remotely take control of robots." ^【8】 In this context, it was concluded that advanced robotic devices produced in foreign countries create a supply chain vulnerability that could undermine U.S. economic and national security and constitute a cybersecurity risk threatening the security of critical infrastructure and, consequently, the safety and security of U.S. citizens.

The national security determinations include a mechanism for granting "conditional approval" if the Department of Defense (DoD) or, in the case of power inverters, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), determines that a specific device or class of devices does not pose the aforementioned unacceptable risks. Manufacturers of advanced robotic devices and power inverters are encouraged to apply for conditional approval by submitting requests to [email protected] in accordance with relevant guidance documents.

Conditional approval applications may be submitted not only for a single device model but also for entire classes of foreign-produced advanced robotic devices or power inverters. Devices granted conditional approval are published on a separate list on the FCC’s official website. Parties eligible to apply include any organization involved in manufacturing the device, including manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that designed the device, or service providers that purchased the devices.

According to the FCC, this update only prevents new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters from obtaining FCC authorization and, consequently, from being imported, marketed, or sold in the United States. The regulation does not affect the importation, sale, or use of existing devices previously authorized by the FCC. No restrictions are imposed on consumers using devices they purchased before the regulation took effect. The regulation does not impose any restrictions on imports, marketing, sales, or use by the federal government or federal agencies.

The FCC has stated that this action is "not targeted at any specific country or countries" and is "country neutral."

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, in his statement on the regulation, said, "I welcome these executive branch national security determinations and am pleased that the FCC has added foreign-produced advanced robotic and power inverter equipment to the FCC’s Covered List. Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do its part to secure America’s critical supply chains, and today’s action demonstrates the FCC working in alignment with our national security agencies to achieve exactly that.President Trump's leadership, the FCC will continue to do its part to secure America’s critical supply chains, and today’s action demonstrates the FCC working in alignment with our national security agencies to achieve exactly that." The FCC stated in its announcement that these devices "could create supply chain vulnerabilities that undermine U.S. economic and national security and pose a cybersecurity risk to American critical infrastructure." ^【9】 According to the FCC, this step follows similar decisions made in recent months regarding unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and UAS critical components, as well as consumer routers.

According to the FCC, this step follows similar decisions made in recent months regarding unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and UAS critical components, as well as consumer routers.

According to Associated Press, China holds approximately 85 percent of the global market for humanoid robots. According to a Reuters report based on Counterpoint Research data, Unitree, a Chinese company among the world’s leading humanoid robot manufacturers, holds approximately one-fifth of the global market share. According to a CNN report based on Interact Analysis data, Chinese companies accounted for 90 percent of global humanoid robot shipments in 2025, with the United States being China’s largest overseas market for humanoid robots. ^【12】 According to technology research and consulting firm Omdia, of the approximately 15,000 humanoid robots shipped worldwide in 2025, China’s leading robotics companies Unitree and AGIBOT each delivered more than 5,000 units, while U.S.-based Tesla and Figure AI each shipped only a few hundred or fewer robots. ^【13】

In the power inverter sector, China is the world’s largest producer, led by Sungrow Power Supply and Huawei, which is subject to U.S. sanctions. According to Reuters, Chinese manufacturers are increasing their share of the Western inverter market due to price advantages. ^【14】

At a regular press briefing on July 29, 2026, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China has always firmly opposed the United States’ expansive interpretation of the concept of national security as a means to pressure Chinese companies. Mao said Beijing would take "all necessary measures" to protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies and added: "Protectionism does not enhance the United States’ competitiveness. It will only harm the interests of American companies and consumers."^【15】

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Washington called on both countries to "listen to the objective and rational voices of their business communities" and to "stop defaming Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions." The embassy stated that the Chinese government would take "all necessary measures" against any action that causes material harm to its interests. ^【16】

The embassy also called on countries to jointly develop artificial intelligence "for positive and beneficial purposes," urging the United States to "abandon hegemonic thinking and cease defaming and threatening Chinese companies with sanctions." ^【17】 On July 30, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce accused the United States of "unilateral bullying" and "market distortion," and called on Washington to immediately withdraw the ban or face countermeasures. ^【18】