▲ Chinese-made robots
The United States has banned the import of new models of foreign advanced robots to protect national security and critical infrastructure.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on the 28th (local time) a complete ban on the import of new models of humanoid and quadruped (four-legged) robots.
Inverters that allow renewable energy sources and batteries to be connected to power grids and data center equipment were also included in the import ban.
Regarding the robot import ban, the FCC stated, "Data collected by advanced robotic devices could be exploited by malicious actors to surveil Americans, bolster foreign intelligence capabilities, and remotely hijack robots."
It also pointed out that connected power inverters could allow foreign companies to arbitrarily shut down inverters connected to power grids and data centers, collect and leak data, and be exploited for cyberattacks.
Beyond security-related reasons, the move is also seen as aimed at protecting the supply chain of the domestic artificial intelligence (AI) industry within the U.S.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said, "Under the direction of President Donald Trump, the FCC is doing its part to protect America's critical supply chains," adding, "Through this action, the FCC is working closely with national security agencies to do just that."
While the FCC import ban applies to all imported products regardless of origin, Reuters assessed that the measure is primarily aimed at China.
Reuters also analyzed that the move includes an intent to pressure overseas robot manufacturing facilities to relocate to the United States.
However, this import ban does not affect consumers' use of previously purchased devices or the sale of previously approved models.
In addition, federal government purchases and usage are unaffected by this measure, and exceptions are recognized if manufacturers receive approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security.
The Chinese government pushed back.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated during a regular briefing on the 29th, "China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies," and claimed that "protectionism cannot enhance U.S. competitiveness, but will only harm the interests of U.S. businesses and consumers."
Regarding the U.S. decision to restrict imports, Zhang Xiaolong, director of the Beijing Advanced Technology Research Institute, said, "It will hinder U.S. development by blocking learning and benchmarking in emerging fields like humanoid robots that have not yet reached the stage of global mass adoption."
He added, "Power inverters are also critical for AI data centers and renewable energy integration, and rejecting cost-effective Chinese products could delay AI development due to rising electricity bills and supply-and-price issues."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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