US Bans Foreign-Made Humanoid Robots

HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has announced a ban on new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns. The move mainly targets China, which dominates the global market for humanoid robots with an estimated market share of roughly 85%. The FCC also banned foreign-made power inverters. That reflects concerns over potential risks for American electricity grids and a push to fortify U.S. supply chains. China’s Foreign Ministry protested the move. The FCC’s bans follow a slew of U.S. restrictions on imports of Chinese products, including drones, and on exports of U.S. advanced technology to China. Such measures are likely to test relations with Beijing ahead of a planned U.S. visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September.