U.S. Restricts New Foreign-Made Humanoid Robots

The FCC says the move addresses remote control, spying, and cyberattack risks.

What Changed

The Trump administration is banning imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and power inverters.

TechCrunch reported that the Federal Communications Commission announced the restriction on Tuesday. The FCC said overseas-made devices could be remotely controlled or used for surveillance.

The agency also cited possible use in cyberattacks.

The restriction largely affects Chinese imports, TechCrunch reported. China holds most of the global market share for these products.

What Still Can Be Bought

The ban covers new models of foreign-made mobile robots. Existing models already authorized by the FCC can still be bought and used, Ars Technica reported.

Previously purchased robots also remain usable.

The rule covers mobile devices above 4.4 pounds. Small robotic toys may remain available under that threshold.

Fixed industrial robots are exempt. That includes foreign-made robot arms and other non-mobile systems.

The ban also does not cover medical robots, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, trains, drones, underwater vehicles, or road-going connected vehicles, according to Ars Technica.

Deployment Reality

Humanoids remain early-stage products, not mainstream tools. TechCrunch reported about 15,000 humanoid robots shipped worldwide in 2025.

The rule affects the path from demo to purchase for new foreign-made mobile robots. It does not stop use of existing approved machines.

The FCC said exceptions are possible when the government finds no national-security risk. It remains unclear which robot makers or future models will receive those exceptions.

China’s Ministry of Commerce called the ban “discriminatory and suppressive,” according to Ars Technica.