CNBC (via Future Tools)

Trump administration to ban new Chinese robots and inverters, protecting U.S. AI

Brief

The Trump administration will use an FCC rollout on July 28, 2026 to bar imports of Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots and connected power inverters, citing risks to the U.S. AI buildout from disruption, data theft and cyberattacks and pursuing reindustrialization by encouraging firms to shift manufacturing back to the U.S.

Why it matters

On July 28, 2026 the FCC is set to announce new U.S. restrictions banning imports from China of the latest humanoid and quadruped robots and connected power inverters (which enable renewables and batteries to link to grids and data‑center equipment).

Key details

  • The administration frames the measures as protecting the U.S. AI supply chain from disruption, data theft and cyberattacks and as a push to reshore manufacturing, according to an unnamed official.
Source evidence

The Trump administration on Tuesday plans to unveil new bans that target imports of the latest Chinese robots and power inverters, seeking to protect the U.S. AI buildout from national security threats and reshore key industries slated for explosive growth, U.S. officials said.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday afternoon plans to roll out the measures, which bar Chinese imports of new humanoid and quadruped robots — in addition to connected power inverters, which enable renewable energy sources and batteries to connect to grids and data center equipment, the people said.

The restrictions, whose imminent release has not been previously reported, show the Trump administration is aiming to safeguard the U.S. artificial intelligence supply chain from Chinese threats of disruption, data theft and cyberattacks, while also driving firms to shift manufacturing to the U.S.

"The President has made clear that the United States must have independent and secure supply chains for critical and emerging technologies like robotic devices and power inverters," said an administration official, who declined to be named because the matter was not public.

"Economic security is national security, and the Trump administration continues to implement a nuanced and multi-faceted policy agenda to reindustrialize America," he added. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tech

Trump administration to ban new Chinese robots and inverters, protecting U.S. AI

Unitree Robotics humanoids dance on May 31, 2026, in Shanghai, for the opening of Asia's first embodied intelligence experience store.

Jade Gao | Afp | Getty Images