The US Threw the First Punch in the Global Robot Wars. How Will China Respond?

The FCC added new foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots to its Covered List, allowing them to be blocked unless exempted.

Existing approved models remain allowed, but the move is widely seen as targeting Chinese tech firms.

China’s commerce ministry called the step discriminatory protectionism and warned of countermeasures.

The decision could reshape access to a fast-growing robotics market and intensify U.S.-China competition over AI and security.