China’s humanoid robots have been taking over the global market. Now the US is banning them | CNN Business

China, which supplies the vast majority of the world’s humanoid robots, has suddenly been cut off from its largest export market as the US government moves to curb its reliance on foreign technology.

China, which supplies the vast majority of the world’s humanoid robots, has suddenly been cut off from its largest export market as the US government moves to curb its reliance on foreign technology.

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration banned new humanoid and quadruped robot imports from foreign manufacturers, saying they pose “unacceptable risks” to US national security. The ban also includes power converters used to connect renewable energy infrastructure and batteries to the power grid.

The new restrictions, which exclude models already in use, are the latest attempt by Washington to bolster and safeguard its domestic industries and supply chain, amid an intensifying rivalry with China to dominate advanced technology and artificial intelligence.

While China has trailed the US in the development of cutting-edge AI models, the rollout of ever more powerful Chinese models in recent months has rattled Washington and Silicon Valley.

China, analysts said, has also established a lead in AI consumer applications and AI-enabled hardware, such as robots, thanks to its manufacturing scale and ability to commercialize products quickly.

“These devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt US economic and national security and could create a cybersecurity risk that threatened American critical infrastructure,” the Federal Communications Commission said in a statement.

The FCC decision was based on a national security determination made on Monday by a White House-convened interagency body, which warned that internet-connected robots could pose data privacy risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. US officials have previously raised similar concerns to block the sale of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the US.

The robots “collect data that could be leveraged by malign actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or to remotely commandeer the robots,” the document for the determination said.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing has consistently opposed what she called the US practice of abusing the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies, vowing to “take necessary measures” to defend their interests.

“Protectionism will not enhance US competitiveness; it will only harm the interests of American businesses and consumers,” she said at a Wednesday press conference.

CNN has reached out to China’s Ministry of Commerce as well as top Chinese humanoid robot makers, including Unitree, Agibot, UBTech and Galbot, for comment.