The United States has intensified its efforts to limit China’s technological rise by banning imports of foreign-made humanoid robots and blocking power inverters used in data centres and solar energy systems. This move is part of a broader strategy to protect US industry amid escalating rivalry over artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor chips, and industrial technology.

Humanoid robots are transitioning from laboratory experiments to a significant global market. Morgan Stanley estimates the robotics market could reach $5 trillion by 2050, with over a billion humanoid robots in use worldwide. However, much of the global robot supply chain is centered in China, which produces robot components at a scale and price that competitors find difficult to match.

By restricting imports of these technologies, the US aims to slow China’s rapid advancements in robotics and related sectors.

Sources