FCC bans foreign made robots and robot dogs from entering the US

On July 29th, 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order prohibiting the importation and sale of new humanoid robots, robot dogs, and solar inverters within the United States for national security reasons. Specifically, the FCC stated that these products posed risks of being controlled remotely by foreign entities or used in cyber attacks against critical infrastructure.

1What Exactly Is Banned

The FCC’s order applies to humanoid robots, robot dogs, and solar/renewable energy power inverters. It does not apply to existing inverters already in use in residential settings. There are exemptions for devices determined to be secure, but otherwise it effectively bars the importation of new products.

2Why Now — and Who's the Main Target

China is the leading producer of humanoid robots, with the FCC estimating that out of approximately 15,000 humanoids sold worldwide in 2025, the majority were manufactured there. This follows a series of similar actions over the past few years, including restrictions on TikTok, routers, and surveillance cameras made by Hikvision and Dahua.

In response to the FCC’s action, Beijing said it would take “necessary measures” to safeguard Chinese companies. Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet with President Trump in Washington in September, with trade issues expected to be a major focus of the talks amidst the intensifying competition between the two powers in the field of robotics.