US moves to fix humanoid robot supply chain gaps as China dominance looms

Washington wants American humanoid robots. The problem is that America currently struggles to build the parts that go inside them. The US government has moved to restrict imports of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots. Meanwhile, domestic robotics executives warn that the country does not have a supply chain capable of producing critical components at scale. The FCC draws a line In July 2026, the Federal Communications Commission expanded its Covered List to include humanoid and quadruped robots. The change restricts new imports of those machines. It puts walking, two-legged and four-legged robots in a regulatory category the government reserves for equipment it views as a national security concern. The stated rationale centers on two risks. The first is supply chain vulnerability, meaning reliance on a strategic rival for essential hardware. The second is cybersecurity: a connected robot moving around a warehouse, a hospital, or a home is also a sensor-packed device that could, in theory, be accessed remotely. The initiative began under the Trump administration and was shaped by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Its goal is to reduce dependence on foreign technology, with China as...