China has threatened retaliation after the US moved to block imports of certain advanced robots and inverters. The FCC added foreign-made humanoid robots, four-legged 'robot dogs' and inverters to a restricted list, saying new devices in these categories can no longer obtain FCC approval due to data and surveillance concerns. Already approved and purchased items are unaffected. The dispute adds to a wider US-China technology confrontation that includes chip export controls and limits on electric vehicles.
China Condemns US Limits on Humanoid Robots, Warns of Retaliation as FCC Tightens Import Rules
FILE PHOTO - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the company Unitree Robotics in Zhejiang Province and is given a tour of the presentation rooms by founder and Managing Director Wang Xingxing (l) and watches a boxing match between two robots. (is associated with: «China threatens the US in trade dispute over humanoid robots») Michael Kappeler/dpa
China has warned it will take "resolute countermeasures" after the United States moved to restrict imports of certain advanced robots and related equipment, a Commerce Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. The dispute follows a decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to place some foreign-made humanoid robots, four-legged 'robot dogs' and inverters on a restricted list.
What the FCC Changed
The FCC's new policy prevents newly introduced devices in these categories from obtaining the agency's necessary approval, effectively barring their import and sale in the United States. Devices that have already secured FCC approval and been purchased are not affected. The regulator said the measures were prompted by concerns that such devices could collect sensitive data, be misused for surveillance or be remotely commandeered.
China's Response
A Commerce Ministry spokesman accused Washington of disrupting normal trade and accelerating the decoupling of supply chains between the two countries. He urged the US to withdraw the measures immediately and warned that Beijing would respond if they remain in place.
Industry Context
China's robotics sector has seen rapid growth, with numerous suppliers — many benefiting from state subsidies — racing to develop humanoid platforms and other advanced machines. The inclusion of inverters on the restricted list is notable because they are critical components for solar installations, battery storage and the power supply of data centres.
Broader Tech Confrontation
The restrictions are part of a broader technology standoff between Washington and Beijing. For several years the US has been curbing China's access to high-performance chips and the specialised equipment used to manufacture them. Washington has also applied tariffs and other limits on Chinese electric vehicles. Meanwhile, US policymakers are actively debating how to handle Chinese AI models, with some officials reportedly considering further curbs — a move that has drawn caution from many US tech companies and industry executives.
Potential implications: The move could deepen supply-chain fragmentation, spur retaliatory trade measures from China, and prompt companies on both sides to reassess market strategies for robotics, renewable-energy components and AI deployments.
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