In a move against China’s advancements in robotics, the United States’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blocked new models of foreign-made mobile robots (Foreign Robots) such as humanoids and quadrupeds and connected power inverters from entering the US market, citing national security risks.

On Monday, the commission updated its “Covered list” by including two new categories of devices, “advanced robotic devices” (defined as mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds) and, separately, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries. Items in the Covered List generally cannot receive the new FCC equipment authorizations required for importation, marketing and sale in the US.

The move follows recommendations from a White House led interagency body of national security experts, which claimed that these foreign-made products, regardless of the nationality of origin, “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons”.

According to the agencies, the concerns include potential supply chain disruptions that could affect US economic and national security as well as cybersecurity threats that could put critical infrastructure at risk.

The commission stated that advanced robotics devices and power inverters which the Department of War (DoW) or (in the case of power inverters) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” can be exempted only after finding that such device or class of devices do not pose any risks.

The chairman of FCC Brendan Carr has welcomed the move saying, ”Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part to secure America’s critical supply chains and, with today’s action, the FCC is acting in lock step with our national security agencies to do just that.”

“Producers of advanced robotics devices and power inverters are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance for advanced robotics devices and power inverters attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov,” the FCC informed.

The decision by the government will not affect a consumer’s continued use of devices which they have previously acquired nor it will prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. “By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models. It also does not impact purchase or use by the federal government at all,” the commission highlighted.

Praising the move by the FCC, the chairman of the Select Committee on China Rep. John Moolenaar said in a post on X that FCC’s action will strengthen the country’s robotics industry.

Chairman @RepMoolenaar issued the following statement on the @FCC announcement banning foreign-made robots today: pic.twitter.com/njBU5ml8b8

— Select Committee on China (@ChinaSelect) July 28, 2026

Moolenaar further pressed his demand to the Congress to pass the bipartisan GUARD Act which he introduced in June to further strengthen the policy and codify it into a federal law that cannot be changed by future administration.

Last month chairman Moolenaar , Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) introduced the bipartisan Guarding the U.S. Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act which requires scrutiny of robots made by China and other foreign adversaries and would prohibit the importation of robots determined to be a national security threat to the United States.

“Robots made by China are a threat to national security, critical infrastructure, and American workers. They contain backdoors that can be hijacked for espionage” Moolenaar said in June when introducing the bill

Meanwhile, according to the South China Morning Post, the Chinese embassy in Washington has urged the US to “abandon its hegemonic mindset” and “stop smearing Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions”.

Embassy spokesman Liu Chang said in a statement to the South China Morning Post that the country will take all necessary measures in response to any action which causes material harms to its interest and will resolutely safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interest.

Also Read: China Accuses US of “AI Hegemonism” as Distillation Row Deepens