The US government has restricted imports of humanoid and quadruped robots by adding them to the FCC Covered List in July 2026. This move aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology, specifically targeting China, and to address national security concerns related to supply chain vulnerabilities and potential cybersecurity risks.
Domestic robotics manufacturers face significant challenges due to a lack of local production capacity for critical components. Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik, highlighted in September 2026 that sourcing actuators—which can account for up to 60% of a robot's bill of materials—remains a major hurdle for the US industry.
The reliance on Chinese suppliers for rare-earth magnets, which constitute about 90% of global processing, further complicates domestic production. Estimates indicate that replacing Chinese components could triple manufacturing costs, potentially raising the bill of materials for robots like Tesla's Optimus from $46,000 to $131,000.
While the US leads in AI software, China currently accounts for 80-97% of global humanoid shipments. To bridge this gap, the Department of Defense is increasing investments in domestic manufacturing for rare-earth materials and robotics, though industry experts note that building the necessary infrastructure will take significant time.
