Chinese-made robots [AP=Yonhap News file photo]

The United States has banned the import of foreign-made robots to protect national security and critical infrastructure.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on the 28th (local time) that it will impose a blanket ban on the import of new models of humanoid robots and quadruped (four-legged) robots.

Inverter devices, which allow renewable energy sources and batteries to be connected to power grid and data center equipment, are also included in the import ban.

Regarding the robot import ban, the FCC stated, "Data collected by advanced robotic devices could be exploited by malicious actors to surveil Americans, bolster the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or be used to remotely hijack the robots."

The agency also pointed out that connected power inverters could allow foreign entities to arbitrarily shut down inverters linked to power grids and data centers, collect or leak data, and facilitate cyberattacks.

Beyond security concerns, the move appears to be aimed at protecting the supply chain of the U.S. AI industry.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated, "Under the leadership of President (Donald) Trump, the FCC will do its part to protect America's critical supply chains," adding, "Through this action, the FCC is working closely with national security agencies to achieve that goal."

While the FCC's import ban applies to all imported products regardless of their origin, Reuters reported that the measure is primarily aimed at China.

Reuters also analyzed that the policy is intended to pressure overseas robot manufacturers to relocate their production facilities to the United States.

However, this import ban does not affect the use of devices already purchased by consumers or the sale of models that have been previously approved.

Furthermore, purchases and usage by the federal government are exempt from this measure, and exceptions are granted if manufacturers have received approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security.

The Chinese Embassy in the United States did not respond to a request for comment regarding this matter.