FCC bars imports of robots with over 35% foreign parts

The Federal Communications Commission in late July added “advanced robotic devices,” including humanoid and quadruped robots, to its list of restricted imports. The action blocks finished robots produced abroad and U.S.-assembled machines when more than 35% of components in the bill of materials come from foreign suppliers. The agency cited national security and cybersecurity risks.

The restriction covers new models entering the U.S. market; devices already authorized or sold in the United States are not included in the immediate ban. The Department of Defense may exempt systems approved for military use.

The 35% threshold is measured by the share of foreign components in the bill of materials rather than by the place of final assembly. Components such as motors, servos, cameras, processors and communication modules sourced overseas can push a domestically assembled robot above the limit.

Officials and White House advisers described the concern as a cyber and supply-chain risk from networked robots that carry sensors, cameras and software update channels into industrial and public settings. They warned that compromised components or malicious code could create access points to critical infrastructure or sensitive networks.

Manufacturers face new compliance requirements. Industry executives and legal advisers expect firms to document component origins, qualify alternative suppliers and adjust sourcing to keep products eligible for the U.S. market. U.S. assembly alone may not meet the threshold if key parts are imported.

Some companies are planning or expanding U.S. production. Boston Dynamics has discussed manufacturing capacity aimed at roughly 30,000 units a year. Tesla has indicated plans to produce its Optimus humanoid in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas.

Beijing criticized the restriction as protectionist. Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, called the restrictions “harmful to U.S. businesses and consumers” and accused them of violating global trade norms, while promising unspecified countermeasures.

The FCC implemented the rule through its import-controls framework that has previously been used to restrict certain drones and equipment tied to specific foreign firms. The agency positioned connected robots alongside telecom gear and aerial drones as a regulatory priority for cyber and supply-chain security.

How agencies enforce the rule, whether U.S. suppliers can provide critical components at scale, and whether trading partners respond with measures of their own will shape the policy’s effects on manufacturers, buyers and investors.