The Trump administration has imposed a ban on new foreign-made humanoid robots, robot dogs and solar inverters, citing national security concerns. The move targets imports from China, which controls most of these markets.

According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), devices made overseas could be remotely controlled or used for surveillance by foreign governments, or in cyberattacks. The ban gives an exception if a device is deemed not to pose a security risk.

This follows a series of actions against China, including bans on TikTok and other consumer tech items. Beijing has rejected the FCC’s decision, saying it will protect its businesses using 'all necessary measures'.

While humanoid robots are still in early development with only around 15,000 shipped worldwide last year, solar inverters are more commonly used by U.S. households to connect renewable energy systems to the power grid. Existing devices and installations will not be affected by this ban.