The Trump administration on Tuesday enacted a new rule to halt imports of advanced robots and power inverters used in solar energy systems, marking the latest effort to address security risks posed by Chinese technology embedded within America’s supply chains.
The Federal Communications Commission announced the restrictions, expanding its previous actions that have targeted foreign-made drones and wireless routers. The updated rule now covers mobile robots—including humanoid and quadruped models—as well as power inverters that connect solar energy systems to the electrical grid, equipment increasingly prevalent due to nationwide green energy mandates.
This move aligns with two key priorities of the Trump administration’s second term: countering China’s expanding influence in artificial intelligence and challenging Beijing’s dominance over the clean energy supply chain. The administration asserts this dependency has left the United States dangerously exposed to an adversarial power.
“Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part to secure America’s critical supply chains,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in a statement. “With today’s action, the FCC is acting in lock step with our national security agencies.”
A Trump administration interagency group concluded that the technology poses genuine risks to U.S. supply chains and could introduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, including potential power outages or opportunities for foreign espionage. The FCC has updated its list of restricted equipment to block new authorizations and prohibit their use within the United States.
The restrictions apply only to new models going forward. Existing devices remain unaffected, retailers can continue selling previously authorized products, and federal procurement is excluded from this measure. Manufacturers may still request waivers through a process that involves approval from the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security.
In its justifications, the FCC highlighted the hidden dangers of foreign-made robotics: “The networked capabilities of advanced robotic systems create extensive vulnerabilities… Relying on foreign-produced advanced robotic devices presents unacceptable supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.” The agency warned such devices could be used to surveil Americans, enhance foreign intelligence operations, or enable remote control by malicious actors.
This action is part of a broader administration strategy to isolate Chinese technology from American infrastructure, addressing longstanding vulnerabilities that officials claim adversaries have exploited while U.S. policy overlooked the risks.
