Overview
- The Federal Communications Commission added advanced humanoid and quadruped robots plus foreign-made power inverters to its Covered List, an action the agency announced on Tuesday that blocks new or not-yet-authorized models from import or sale in the United States.
- The rules apply only to new or unapproved models so products already authorized for U.S. sale remain allowed for now, and the FCC said it can review or revoke existing approvals if needed.
- Companies may apply for waivers and the agency has signaled it expects many non-Chinese suppliers to be exempt if they meet conditions that include plans to begin U.S. manufacturing.
- Beijing strongly condemned the move and warned of countermeasures, and U.S. officials are watching diplomatic fallout ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in September.
- The policy is part of a broader U.S. push to reduce reliance on Chinese-dominated supply chains in AI and critical infrastructure and includes a limited waiver allowing security and compatibility updates through January 1, 2029.