China threatens retaliation against U.S. humanoid robot ban, says it 'severely damages' relations - CNBC

What the report says

CNBC reported that China’s Commerce Ministry on Thursday criticized a U.S. Federal Communications Commission action restricting new imports of foreign-made advanced robotic devices, including humanoid robots, over cybersecurity concerns. The FCC’s Tuesday statement did not name China, and CNBC said retailers may still bring in models that had already received FCC approval.

According to CNBC’s translation of the ministry’s Mandarin statement, Beijing said Washington had disregarded China’s restrained approach to earlier product bans and argued that the latest move harms stability in China-U.S. economic and trade ties. The ministry called on the U.S. to reverse the decision and warned that China could respond with countermeasures if it does not.

The report placed the dispute within a widening technology rivalry. CNBC noted that President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, while U.S. officials have also raised the possibility of sanctions tied to alleged AI model “theft.” Trump also indicated Thursday that the U.S. may take a more careful approach to AI controls as it seeks to preserve its technology lead over China.

The restrictions could matter for a growing humanoid robotics sector. CNBC cited Counterpoint Research as saying Chinese companies Agibot, Unitree and UBTech were the top three humanoid firms by installation market share last year, while Tesla’s Optimus ranked fifth. Counterpoint’s Marc Einstein said possible Chinese responses could include tighter rare earth limits or reduced access for U.S. firms in China. CNBC also reported that UBTech shares briefly dropped more than 6% in Hong Kong trading, and that Unitree and Agibot have filed to go public.