Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots
The US and China are locked in a race to the lead the world in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The Trump administration has prohibited the importation of new humanoid robots manufactured abroad, citing "unacceptable risks" to U.S. national security. The ban, announced on Tuesday, targets advanced robotic systems, including both bipedal and four-legged models. A significant portion of these machines originate from China, a nation actively competing with the U.S. in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) development.
In a related action, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also restricted the import of power inverters, components vital for data centers and solar panels, due to potential threats to the U.S. economy. FCC chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency's actions were aimed at "securing America's critical supply chains."
The BBC has reached out to the Chinese embassy in Washington for a statement. Chinese technology firms have rapidly advanced in the development of humanoid robots for various applications, including industrial and domestic environments. These companies have also been proactive in marketing their robotic products to businesses and consumers, outpacing U.S. competitors such as Elon Musk's Tesla and Boston Dynamics in the humanoid robot market.