In July and August, the U.S. implemented new restrictions on foreign-made advanced robotic systems and imposed tariffs on imported drones and components, citing national-security concerns. These measures are part of a broader U.S. strategy to limit foreign technology in strategically important industries, building on the FCC’s Covered List, which initially targeted telecommunications and surveillance equipment from companies like Huawei, ZTE, and Hikvision, and has since expanded to include foreign-made drones and advanced robotic devices. The drone tariffs are set to take effect in September, with additional component tariffs following in 2027.

The article suggests that while these restrictions may protect parts of the American market, they do not directly address China’s global manufacturing scale and cost advantages. Industry analysts and executives interviewed by TechCrunch anticipate a more fragmented global robotics market, where Chinese companies expand into other regions while U.S. and allied manufacturers focus on markets with higher security requirements. Chinese manufacturers currently dominate global humanoid robot manufacturing, with the top five manufacturers by shipments—AgiBot, Unitree, Galbot, UBTECH, and Leju Robotics—being Chinese and accounting for 86% of global shipments in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint. This advantage is expected to compound as lower prices allow Chinese manufacturers to deploy more robots, generating real-world data to improve their technology and driving costs down further. Source

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