In July and August, the United States tightened restrictions on imported advanced drones and robots, imposing steep tariffs that took effect in September and will be extended to components in 2027. The measures cite national‑security concerns and expand the FCC’s Covered List, which already covers telecommunications equipment from Chinese firms.

The Covered List, created in 2021, originally targeted telecom and surveillance gear from Huawei, ZTE and Hikvision. It was later extended to drones and, most recently, to sophisticated robotic systems.

Chinese manufacturers dominate humanoid robot shipments, with about 22,000 units shipped in the first half of 2026, representing roughly 86% of global volume, according to Counterpoint. U.S. companies operate at a far smaller scale, said Soumen Mandal, a principal analyst at Counterpoint Research. Ankur Saxena, investment director at TDK Ventures, noted that robotics competition does not hinge on a single controllable technology.

Saxena said lower prices enable Chinese firms to deploy more robots, generate real‑world data and drive further cost reductions. He added that U.S. sanctions cannot reverse a cost curve and that America would need a decade‑long investment to match China’s manufacturing scale. Bentzion Levinson, founder and CEO of Heven AeroTech, said Western manufacturers are unlikely to beat Chinese firms in the low‑end consumer drone market but may focus on long‑range autonomous systems for defense and critical infrastructure where security requirements matter.

Agility Robotics welcomed the FCC decision, saying it could address security concerns before foreign robots become deeply embedded in the U.S. market. The company highlighted its Digit humanoid, designed and assembled in the United States, while calling for continued access to research tools. Analysts suggested the restrictions could foster a more diversified allied supply chain and create opportunities for manufacturers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, though none can fully replace China’s embedded components.

The policy may limit Chinese access to the United States, but it does not erase the global scale advantage that underpins its competitive position, leaving the future structure of the robotics industry uncertain.