San Francisco · China · FCC · U.S. · Rest of World
Ban on Chinese robots exits U.S. firms stranded
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source + 2 references discovered via search. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
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The U.S. government is forcing a rapid onshoring of robotics through a sweeping ban on foreign-made robots, even before an American supply chain exists, putting at risk the robotics startups the policy is trying to cultivate.
Key facts
- The required share of domestic parts will rise to 75% in 2029
- In 2025, nearly 90% of all humanoids sold globally were Chinese, according to research firm Omdia
- The Covered List was created by the Congress in 2021 to give the FCC authority to ban devices that pose national security risks
- In adding robots to the Covered List, the FCC cited security vulnerabilities found in Unitree robots and an incident in which a DJI robot vacuum user accidentally gained access to 7,000 other robots
Summary
The FCC added foreign-made robots to its Covered List, banning new models unless they are assembled in the U.S. and contain at least 65% domestic components by value. The restrictions were enacted over national security concerns to prevent long-term reliance on foreign robotics supply chains, particularly from China. Some U.S. robotics startups say that meeting the threshold is nearly impossible, others hope it will protect them from cheaper Chinese competition in the long run. The Federal Communications Commission last month added “advanced robotic devices” to its list of banned devices that pose national security risks.