China Warns of Retaliation Over New US Restrictions on Chinese Robots

China has warned the United States that it will take firm action to defend its interests if Washington continues with new restrictions on Chinese robots and power inverters, escalating tensions between the two countries over technology, trade and national security.

China’s Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that the United States should immediately withdraw the measures and stop what it described as discriminatory actions against Chinese companies and products. Beijing accused Washington of expanding the use of national security concerns to restrict Chinese technology.

The warning followed new measures announced by the US Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday. The FCC added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters to its list of equipment considered a national security concern. The action blocks the authorisation of new models covered by the decision.

The restrictions cover humanoid and quadruped robots, including four-legged robotic systems, as well as power inverters used to connect renewable energy sources, batteries and other electrical equipment to the power grid.

The FCC said the measures were aimed at protecting critical US infrastructure and reducing risks associated with cyberattacks, data theft and supply-chain disruptions. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency wanted to strengthen US supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign-produced equipment.

China rejected the security argument, saying the US had ignored repeated representations from Beijing and continued expanding restrictions on Chinese technology firms.

The latest move adds to a series of US actions targeting Chinese technology. Washington has previously restricted certain Chinese drones and routers and imposed controls on advanced technology exports to China. The two governments have also been discussing further restrictions involving Chinese artificial intelligence technologies.

Analysts said the robotics restrictions could affect Chinese manufacturers that have established strong positions in the fast-growing global market. Unitree, one of China’s leading robotics companies, has recently worked with Nvidia on technology for humanoid robots and has attracted significant attention in the US research and technology sectors.

China has rapidly expanded its robotics industry, supported by domestic manufacturing capacity and government policies. Analysts said limiting access to the US market could hurt individual Chinese manufacturers, but was unlikely to significantly slow development of the sector because companies have access to a large domestic market and other export destinations.

The impact of the inverter restrictions could also be significant because Chinese manufacturers hold a major position in the global market. However, analysts said the measures target new equipment rather than existing devices or previously approved models.

The dispute comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage wider economic and technological tensions. The latest restrictions could also put pressure on cooperation between US and Chinese technology companies, adding another potential source of conflict between the world’s two largest economies.