Archive · 31 Jul 2026
US Bans New Chinese Humanoid Robots on Security Grounds
The U.S. government said it will stop new Chinese robots from coming into the country because they might be unsafe.
The rule only stops new models that haven’t been approved yet; older robots that are already sold can stay.
The FCC worries that these robots could let bad people hack them or steal data.
The ban happened right after a Chinese robot company, Unitree, started selling in Europe and was also named a military company by the Pentagon.
China says the U.S. is being unfair and protecting its own companies.
U.S. FCC banned imports of new Chinese humanoid robots, robot dogs, and power inverters on national‑security grounds.
The ban applies only to models not yet approved for sale in the U.S.; existing Unitree robots can still be sold.
FCC cited supply‑chain and cybersecurity risks, including backdoors found in Unitree hardware at U.S. universities.
The ban coincides with Unitree’s first commercial launch in Europe and its designation as a Chinese military company by the Pentagon.
China has accused the U.S. of protectionism, while the U.S. frames the move as safeguarding national security.
- Who
- Federal Communications Commission
- What
- Banned imports of new Chinese-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and power inverters
- When
- Effective immediately upon announcement
- Where
- United States
- Why
- National security concerns over supply‑chain and cybersecurity risks
- Ban Effective
- Immediately
- Targeted Products
- Humanoid robots, quadruped robots, power inverters
- Affected Company
- Unitree
- Reason
- Supply chain and cybersecurity risks
- Related Designation
- Unitree designated as Chinese military company by Pentagon