Experts react to FCC limits on U.S. imports of new humanoid and mobile robots

Henrik Christensen, Qualcomm Chancellor’s Chair in Robotic Systems at the University of California San Diego and author of the “Roadmap for U.S. Robotics,” whose latest edition was released in 2024, warned: “Note the ban is potentially much wider than China. Canadian [and] European robots could be impacted. This is very bad news for the industry in general.”

The IFR compared robotics shipments from China versus the U.S.

A comparison of humanoid shipments from China versus the U.S. Source: International Federation of Robotics

FCC ban could hit U.S. innovation more than global humanoid market

The trade restrictions are unlikely to affect the race to develop humanoids and enabling AI, according to one market researcher. Home

News

Technologies

• Batteries / Power Supplies
• Cameras / Imaging / Vision
• Controllers
• End Effectors
• Microprocessors / SoCs
• Motion Control
• Sensors
• Soft Robotics
• Software / Simulation

Development

• Artificial Intelligence
• Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
• Mobility / Navigation
• Research

Robots

• AGVs
• AMRs
• Consumer
• Collaborative Robots
• Drones
• Humanoids
• Industrial
• Self-Driving Vehicles
• Unmanned Maritime Systems

Business

• Financial

• Investments
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Earnings

• Markets

• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Logistics
• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Security

• RBR50

• RBR50 Winners 2025
• RBR50 Winners 2024
• RBR50 Winners 2023 “While the ban reduces direct competition from Chinese manufacturers, it may also hinder U.S. manufacturers seeking to produce robots in China or other countries,” he said. “Should the ban persist over the long term, it would demand that U.S. domestic humanoid robot makers rapidly cut costs and scale up production; otherwise, it could slow the commercialization of humanoid robots.”

“This announcement is more likely to inhibit the U.S. humanoid robotics industry, as the presence of low-cost Chinese humanoid robots has been helping educate the U.S. market through promotional and entertainment use cases — an effect this policy risks undermining,” said Scriven.