But China’s Ministry of Commerce described the “discriminatory and suppressive” ban as mainly taking aim at Chinese robot manufacturers, according to an official statement covered by the New York Times. The ministry also criticized the FCC restriction as undermining China-US relations and disrupting global supply chains, while warning of possible retaliation from China.
Tallying the exemptions
There are a number of exemptions. For example, the new ban defines covered robots as being any mobile device—potentially in combination with a docking station—weighing more than 4.4 pounds. That would permit US consumers to continue buying small robots, such as robotic toys, although most robot vacuums weigh more.
The FCC ban also only covers new models of foreign-made robots. That means US consumers and businesses can continue purchasing existing robot models previously authorized by the FCC and continue to use previously purchased robots, but are blocked from purchasing newer, unauthorized models that come out from this point onward.
The agency made clear that its foreign-made robot ban does not apply to trains, drones, underwater vehicles, and “connected vehicles” that drive on roads, such as robotaxis. The FCC already enacted an import ban on foreign-made drone models in December 2025.
Similarly, it does not cover anything classified as devices by the Food and Drug Administration, including medical or surgical robots, external limb prostheses, and mobility assistive devices, such as wheelchairs.
The FCC ban also specifically exempts fixed or stationary robots. That means US businesses can continue purchasing and using foreign-made industrial robot arms and other specialized, non-mobile robots.
Notably, the US Department of Defense can determine that a foreign-made robot or class of such robots does not pose security risks—thereby exempting such robots from the FCC’s Covered List. The Department of Defense has been rebranded the Department of War under the Trump administration and is referenced as such in the FCC documents.
Innovation boost or protectionist claptrap?
The ban on foreign-made robots could theoretically encourage more US and foreign companies to set up manufacturing facilities in the United States. There are already multiple companies racing to scale up production of humanoid robots in US factories, including Agility Robotics, 1X Technologies, and Figure AI. Tesla has been attempting to shift production away from older electric vehicle models and toward its Optimus humanoid robot.