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The U.S. is banning humanoid robots and foreign-made power inverters. This is part of a national security strategy designed to stimulate domestic production of cutting-edge technologies.
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The FCC has announced a ban on the importation into the United States of anthropomorphic and other high-tech robotic devices manufactured outside the country, justifying this by stating that such βadvanced robotic equipmentβ poses a threat to national security. In addition, power converters of foreign origin have also been deemed a security risk.
In its press release, the FCC cited the findings of unnamed agencies responsible for national security. According to the agency, these agencies cited unacceptable threats in their decisions, including vulnerabilities in supply chains capable of disrupting the U.S. economy and security, as well as the risk of cyber threats to critical U.S. infrastructure.
As with the previously adopted restrictions on routers manufactured abroad, the government explained the current move as consistent with the White Houseβs 2025 National Security Strategy, which calls for bringing industrial production back within the country with a particular emphasis on strategically important and innovative technology sectors. Unlike the stricter ban on routers, the restrictions on robotics and power converters rely on the βBuy Americanβ regulation to determine a productβs country of origin, which typically allows for a certain percentage of foreign components in goods assembled in the U.S.
The FCC classifies four-legged robots and humanoid systems as βadvancedβ devices subject to the new restrictions, although exceptions are provided for equipment procured by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. According to the FCC, as reliance on modern robotic systems grows to protect critical infrastructure, the industrial sector, and U.S. military superiority, it is extremely important to establish a reliable domestic supply and manufacturing base for such equipment. The network capabilities of the latest robotics create significant vulnerabilities and attack vectors that could compromise data and the physical operation of devices. Relying on foreign-sourced technology poses unacceptable risks to supply chains and cybersecurity.
The regulator makes similar arguments regarding power inverters, with restrictions applying to devices that convert electrical current and are equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular communication modules. The FCCβs statement notes that any unauthorized interference or disruption in the supply of power inverters or in the operation of the devices themselves would very likely jeopardize the U.S. power supply and, as a result, threaten the countryβs economic well-being and security. However, as with the ban on routers earlier this year, a complete halt to the import of foreign power inverters may prove to be a difficult task, at least in the short term. The FCCβs broad wording in defining such devices potentially covers any backup battery with an AC outlet and a companion app, although these are not explicitly mentioned and may be subject to exceptions.
The FCC cites an assessment by the Department of Energy indicating that a significant portion of inverter components is manufactured almost entirely outside the United States. Without relocating the production of these components to U.S. territory, it will be extremely difficult to minimize the associated security risks. As with robots, companies have the option to apply for conditional approval to continue selling their products in the U.S. market.
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