Trump Administration Bans New Chinese Robots, Inverters

By Aurax Radio | July 29, 2026 | 2 min read

The Trump administration has announced new restrictions barring imports of new Chinese-made humanoid robots and connected power inverters, citing national security concerns. Officials say the measures are intended to protect the United States' growing artificial intelligence infrastructure and critical energy systems from potential cyber threats and supply chain vulnerabilities.

Technicians installing solar energy equipment and power inverters at a renewable energy site.

Connected power inverters used in renewable energy systems are included in the Trump administration's latest import restrictions.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to prohibit the import of new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots, along with connected power inverters used in renewable energy systems, battery storage and data centres. The restrictions, announced by the Trump administration, are aimed at preventing technologies that officials believe could be exploited for espionage, cyberattacks or disruption of critical infrastructure. The ban applies to future products that have not yet received regulatory approval and forms part of a broader effort to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese technology in strategically important industries.

The measures are expected to affect major Chinese manufacturers, including robotics company Unitree and inverter producers such as Huawei and Sungrow. U.S. officials said advanced robots equipped with sensors, cameras and network connectivity could collect sensitive information or be remotely manipulated by hostile actors, while internet-connected power inverters could present vulnerabilities within the nation's electricity grid and AI infrastructure. The FCC said the restrictions are designed to strengthen supply chain security while encouraging manufacturers to shift production to the United States or other trusted countries. Existing products already authorised for sale are not immediately affected, although regulators have reserved the right to review previously approved equipment if national security concerns arise.

The latest action expands a series of U.S. restrictions targeting Chinese technology over national security concerns, including previous measures involving telecommunications equipment, drones and networking devices. Chinese officials have criticised the move, arguing that Washington is overstretching the concept of national security and unfairly targeting Chinese companies. The decision underscores the continuing strategic competition between the world's two largest economies over artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and critical infrastructure, with technology increasingly becoming a central element of U.S.-China relations.

Sources: Information from Reuters, BBC News, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNBC and The Associated Press.

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