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China threatens retaliation over US import ban on robots, power inverters
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A humanoid robot waves Chinese national flags at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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A worker reacts near a line of humanoid robots displayed at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, China, on July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Updated 30 July 2026 07:10
REUTERS:
July 30, 202602:07
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The ministry urged the United States to immediately withdraw the measures and stop its “erroneous actions,” saying they discriminate against and suppress Chinese companies and products.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released measures on Tuesday, seeking to protect the US AI buildout from national security threats and reshore key industries slated for explosive growth.
China said the FCC had ignored Beijing’s repeated representations and continued to intensify its restrictive measures.
The ministry accused the US of generalizing the concept of national security, calling it “market distortion and unilateral bullying behavior” that ignored the interests of Chinese and American industries.
The FCC’s ban also includes new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs. The agency said imports of advanced robots pose cybersecurity and other national security risks. Offshore production of such equipment also leaves US supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.
The ban on power inverters, which are used to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers and household appliances, could have sweeping ramifications.
This is the latest in US restrictions on Chinese imports
FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said Tuesday that the move was to “secure America’s critical supply chains.” He said the bans apply to “new versions” of such imports.
The FCC’s bans follow a slew of US restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of US advanced technology to China.
The US is also weighing controls on use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models at a time when Chinese AI is rapidly gaining ground.
“It’s a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into (the) Trump-Xi summit planned for September,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.
China has been rapidly expanding the use of robots, with policies supporting its technology sector. Morgan Stanley analysts forecast its market for humanoids could reach $15 billion by 2030.
“Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs faster than most overseas competitors,” said analyst Kangyuxiao Li at Morningstar.
“Restricting their access to the US removes an important future market and protects US developers from potential price competition,” he said. “However, it will not materially slow China’s overall humanoid development, given the size of its domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export markets.”
Of the around 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s largest advanced robotics companies, each shipped more than 5,000. Their US counterparts, like Tesla and Figure AI, each shipped a few hundred or less, according to the technology research and advisory group Omdia.
On the restrictions on power inverters, Cheng Wang, another Morningstar analyst, said the pressure on US markets should be limited. The ban appears to not impact the continued use of existing devices nor the selling by Chinese companies of models that were previously approved by the United States.
China says protectionism will only hurt the US
China’s Foreign Ministry hit back at the US move, accusing Washington of overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies.
China will take “all measures necessary” to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, it said.
“Protectionism does not make the US more competitive, and it will only hurt the interests of US companies and consumers,” Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a regular press conference Wednesday in Beijing.
The new bans could also potentially interfere with collaborations between US and Chinese technology companies, said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia.
Nvidia, for example, in June revealed a humanoid robot reference design which uses the humanoid chassis of China’s Unitree.
The Pentagon recently included Unitree and several other major Chinese technology companies on its list of firms that it said have ties to or aid the Chinese military. Beijing has rejected that claim.
1 / 2
A humanoid robot waves Chinese national flags at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
2 / 2
A worker reacts near a line of humanoid robots displayed at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, China, on July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Next
Short Url
Updated 30 July 2026 07:10
REUTERS:
July 30, 202602:07
Follow
- US Commerce Ministry said ban on China robots needed to protect US AI buildout
- China says protectionism would ultimately hurt American companies and consumers
The ministry urged the United States to immediately withdraw the measures and stop its “erroneous actions,” saying they discriminate against and suppress Chinese companies and products.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released measures on Tuesday, seeking to protect the US AI buildout from national security threats and reshore key industries slated for explosive growth.
China said the FCC had ignored Beijing’s repeated representations and continued to intensify its restrictive measures.
The ministry accused the US of generalizing the concept of national security, calling it “market distortion and unilateral bullying behavior” that ignored the interests of Chinese and American industries.
The FCC’s ban also includes new imports of quadruped robots, often referred to as four-legged robot dogs. The agency said imports of advanced robots pose cybersecurity and other national security risks. Offshore production of such equipment also leaves US supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.
The ban on power inverters, which are used to convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity and are used in renewable energy systems, data centers and household appliances, could have sweeping ramifications.
This is the latest in US restrictions on Chinese imports
FCC chairperson Brendan Carr said Tuesday that the move was to “secure America’s critical supply chains.” He said the bans apply to “new versions” of such imports.
The FCC’s bans follow a slew of US restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of US advanced technology to China.
The US is also weighing controls on use of Chinese open-source artificial intelligence models at a time when Chinese AI is rapidly gaining ground.
“It’s a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into (the) Trump-Xi summit planned for September,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the New America think tank focused on Chinese technology policies.
China has been rapidly expanding the use of robots, with policies supporting its technology sector. Morgan Stanley analysts forecast its market for humanoids could reach $15 billion by 2030.
“Chinese manufacturers have been scaling production and reducing costs faster than most overseas competitors,” said analyst Kangyuxiao Li at Morningstar.
“Restricting their access to the US removes an important future market and protects US developers from potential price competition,” he said. “However, it will not materially slow China’s overall humanoid development, given the size of its domestic manufacturing base and opportunities in other export markets.”
Of the around 15,000 humanoid robots shipped globally in 2025, Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s largest advanced robotics companies, each shipped more than 5,000. Their US counterparts, like Tesla and Figure AI, each shipped a few hundred or less, according to the technology research and advisory group Omdia.
On the restrictions on power inverters, Cheng Wang, another Morningstar analyst, said the pressure on US markets should be limited. The ban appears to not impact the continued use of existing devices nor the selling by Chinese companies of models that were previously approved by the United States.
China says protectionism will only hurt the US
China’s Foreign Ministry hit back at the US move, accusing Washington of overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies.
China will take “all measures necessary” to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, it said.
“Protectionism does not make the US more competitive, and it will only hurt the interests of US companies and consumers,” Mao Ning, a ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a regular press conference Wednesday in Beijing.
The new bans could also potentially interfere with collaborations between US and Chinese technology companies, said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at Omdia.
Nvidia, for example, in June revealed a humanoid robot reference design which uses the humanoid chassis of China’s Unitree.
The Pentagon recently included Unitree and several other major Chinese technology companies on its list of firms that it said have ties to or aid the Chinese military. Beijing has rejected that claim.
