FCC bans foreign humanoid robots and solar inverters

The FCC, under the Trump administration, has banned imports of foreign humanoid robots and solar power inverters, citing national security risks. The move, an expansion of a tech crackdown on China, followed a determination by a White House panel that the devices could be used for surveillance or to disrupt the U.S. power grid. The ban aims to secure the domestic AI supply chain and has received support from Congress.

FCC import restrictions

• ▪The banned power inverters are used in renewable energy systems, batteries, and data centers
• ▪The ban also targets power inverters used to connect solar panels to the electric grid
• ▪On July 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission banned imports of foreign humanoid robots
• ▪The restrictions apply to new Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots

National security vulnerabilities

• ▪The Trump administration determined the imports present a national security risk
• ▪The FCC's action followed determinations from a White House interagency national security panel
• ▪The panel warned advanced robots could collect data to surveil Americans or be remotely commandeered
• ▪The panel stated inverters' remote connectivity could allow foreign firms to shut down power or exfiltrate data

Congressional response

• ▪Moolenaar urged Congress to codify the policy into federal law to protect against Chinese robots with backdoors
• ▪John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, applauded the FCC's move

US-China tech tensions

• ▪The ban expands the Trump administration's "tech crackdown" on China
• ▪The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment
• ▪The policy is part of a broader push to secure the domestic AI supply chain