The Trump administration has announced a ban on new imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, a move squarely aimed at Chinese manufacturers who currently dominate the global market for such machines. The restriction, which also covers four-legged robots, was framed as necessary to address "unacceptable risks" to US national security, reflecting the wider technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing over robotics and artificial intelligence.

The Federal Communications Commission, which announced the measure, also banned imports of power inverters used in data centres and solar panels, citing risks to the US economy. FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the action was intended to help secure America's critical supply chains. Chinese firms have moved quickly to develop and market humanoid robots for factories and homes, getting ahead of US competitors such as Elon Musk's Tesla and Boston Dynamics. The BBC has approached the Chinese embassy in Washington for comment.