{"slug": "the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire", "title": "The US ban on new Chinese robots could backfire", "summary": "The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Jul 28 added foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots to its 'Covered List', effectively barring new import authorizations for these devices, a move targeting China, which controls an estimated 85 per cent of the global humanoid robot market. The ban applies only to new device models seeking FCC authorization going forward; it does not recall robots Americans already own or stop sales of previously cleared models.", "body_md": "# The US ban on new Chinese robots could backfire\n\nWhile security concerns are legitimate, American robotics companies rely on Chinese hardware\n\nTHE US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Jul 28 added [foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/us-bans-new-chinese-humanoid-robots-shield-ai-buildout-national-security-risks) to its “Covered List”, effectively barring new import authorisations for these devices.\n\nNo country is named in the order, but the target is unmistakable: China, which controls an estimated 85 per cent of the global humanoid robot market and is [home to the sector’s dominant players](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/wealth/wealth-investing/how-humanoids-and-robots-could-sustain-chinas-dominance-global-manufacturing), including [Unitree](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/unitrees-ipo-will-test-embodied-ai-valuation-shortcut), AgiBot and UBTech.\n\nIt’s worth being precise about what the ban actually does. It applies only to new device models seeking FCC authorisation going forward; it does not recall robots Americans already own, and it does not stop companies from continuing to sell models cleared before the order took effect.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire", "canonical_source": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/us-ban-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire", "published_at": "2026-08-03 23:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-03 23:23:42.212465+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["robotics", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["Federal Communications Commission", "Unitree", "AgiBot", "UBTech"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-us-ban-on-new-chinese-robots-could-backfire.jsonld"}}