U.S. includes foreign-made robot vacuum cleaners in import restrictions…Chinese companies on alert

The U.S. FCC has expanded restrictions on foreign advanced robots by adding them to a national-security risk equipment list.

New imports and sales certifications are now limited for the latest ground-based service robots with sensors, wireless connectivity, and AI autonomous navigation.

The move is expected to hit the U.S. robot vacuum market, where Chinese brands such as Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, and Xiaomi dominate.

Existing products already on sale in the U.S. are exempt, but the policy could still push supply-chain shifts and more manufacturing pressure.