China warns of retaliation over U.S. plan to bar robot imports
The United States is considering a ban on Chinese-made humanoid robots for security reasons, prompting China to label the move discriminatory and threaten countermeasures.
Washington is moving to restrict imports of Chinese-manufactured humanoid and animal-like robots, citing national-security concerns that the devices could be used for data collection and become strategically important as artificial-intelligence technologies advance. The proposal, announced by the Federal Communications Commission, does not name any specific country, but Chinese firms dominate the global market for such robots.
China’s commerce ministry responded with a statement calling the measure a “discriminatory and suppressive” action aimed at Chinese companies. > "If Washington proceeds with the ban, China will resolutely retaliate to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," the ministry said, without detailing possible steps.
The United States argues that the robots could act as Trojan horses for personal and governmental data as they become more prevalent in homes and workplaces. It also views advanced robotics as a critical component of future economic and defense capabilities. China dismissed the security rationale, accusing the United States of overstretching the concept of national security.
The dispute follows a series of reciprocal restrictions between the two powers on artificial-intelligence systems, semiconductors and other high-tech products. Chinese start-ups already produce thousands of low-cost humanoid robots, and the country supplies the majority of components needed to build them. It also leads the world in industrial robotics, with more than two million units operating in Chinese factories in 2024 and an additional 300,000 installed that year, outpacing the rest of the globe combined.