US curbs on foreign-made robots intensify its wider rivalry with China over AI, chips and industry.
Humanoid robots are no longer a laboratory experiment; they are a growing market. Morgan Stanley estimates it could hit $5 trillion by 2050, with more than a billion humanoids in use worldwide.
However, much of the global robot supply chain runs through China. It produces robot components at a scale and a price its competitors struggle to match.
The United States has banned imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security. It has also blocked power inverters used in data centres and solar energy systems. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to protect US industry and limit China’s technological rise.
Published On 6 Aug 2026