The Trump administration on July 29, 2026, banned new imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs, and solar inverters, citing national security risks.
The ban falls most heavily on China, which leads global manufacturing in both humanoid robots and solar inverters, TechCrunch reported. The administration framed the restrictions as a response to security concerns tied to those products.
BBC News reported that the United States and China are competing for global leadership in robotics and artificial intelligence. Ars Technica noted that some analysts suggest the import restrictions may hinder rather than help the domestic robotics industry.