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Current Affairs

What will the US foreign robot ban mean for China’s world-leading start-ups?

China’s robotics firms have run into a fresh obstacle in their global expansion, after the United States banned imports of new foreign-made models.
The Federal Communications…

By Samantha Johnson / July 29, 2026

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced “advanced robotic devices” to its Covered List on Tuesday, blocking new models from obtaining the authorisation required to be imported and sold in the US.

The ban will cover all new humanoids, quadrupeds and a broad range of connected mobile machines, with the FCC citing supply chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity threats. Previously authorised models remain unaffected for now.

The move will primarily affect China’s robotics firms, given their leading position in the global market. Last year, Chinese companies accounted for more than 80 per cent of the humanoid robots installed globally, according to a report by Counterpoint Research.

Beijing was swift to condemn the move. “China has consistently opposed the US broadening the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Protectionism cannot improve US competitiveness and will only harm American companies and consumers,” she said, adding that Beijing would take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

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