China’s humanoid robots have been taking over the global market. Now the US is banning them
John Liu EngineAI T800 humanoid robots are on display after rolling off the production line at a production facility in Zhengzhou, China, on July 24, 2026.
Key takeaways
- The Trump administration announced on July 28 2026 that the Federal Communications Commission will bar imports of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as related power inverters, citing national‑security risks to the U.S.
- AI build‑out and targeting firms such as Unitree that hold a large share of the global market.
- In the aviation sector, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines joined Southwest in prohibiting human‑like robotic devices from aircraft cabins and checked baggage, a policy rolled out in late June and early July to address safety concerns over heavy‑duty batteries.
- Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD confirmed it will unveil its first humanoid robot in August at a “Di Space” venue, planning an open platform and eventual deployment of robot sales advisors in its stores.
- On the education front, a rural New York school district paused its plan to install a Realbotix humanoid robot in classrooms after state officials, teachers and community members raised privacy and safety objections.
John Liu EngineAI T800 humanoid robots are on display after rolling off the production line at a production facility in Zhengzhou, China, on July 24, 2026.
China, which supplies the vast majority of the world’s humanoid robots, has suddenly been cut off from its largest export market as the US government moves to curb its reliance on foreign technology. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration banned new humanoid and quadruped robot imports from foreign manufacturers, saying they pose “unacceptable risks” to US national security. The ban also includes power converters used to connect renewable energy infrastructure and batteries to the power grid.
The new restrictions, which exclude models already in use, are the latest attempt by Washington to bolster and safeguard its domestic industries and supply chain, amid an intensifying rivalry with China to dominate advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
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While China has trailed the US in the development of cutting-edge AI models, the rollout of ever more powerful Chinese models in recent months has rattled Washington and Silicon Valley. Soumen Mandal, principal analyst at market analysis firm Counterpoint Research, said the timing is likely not an accident as several Chinese humanoid makers, including Unitree, are gearing up for IPOs this year.
“US companies such as Tesla, Figure and Boston Dynamics greatly benefit from this news,” he said.
For Chinese firms, the ban will likely disrupt US sales in the short term, said Lian Jye Su, chief analyst focusing on AI and humanoid robots at research firm Omdia. But he expects the overall impact to be “minimal,” given the longstanding geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
People walk past the Moonshot booth promoting its Kimi K3 AI model, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China, July 17, 2026.
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