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Chinese robots appear headed for a federal ban in the United States.
The bipartisan American Security Robotics Act of 2026, introduced by Republican Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, targets unmanned ground vehicle systems (UGVs), which includes everything from wheeled surveillance robots to legged humanoid and robodogs. If passed, it would prohibit federal money from going toward robots manufactured or assembled by companies tied to China and designated foreign adversaries. GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has introduced companion legislation in the House.
The legislation does not propose a blanket consumer ban but it could have a major impact on federally funded research at universities where Hangzhou-based Unitree’s G1 has become the default humanoid development platform thanks to its relatively low entry price.
Concerns about China’s aggressive robotics push have risen sharply among US officials after Unitree’s viral display during the 2026 Spring Festival Gala on primetime Chinese TV. A fleet of Unitree’s compact G1 and full-sized H2 humanoids stunned audiences with their advanced Kung Fu and acrobatic capabilities.
“The Chinese Communist Party has shown that they are willing to lie and cheat to get ahead at the expense of the American people and our national security,” Schumer said in a press release. “They are running their standard playbook – this time in robotics – trying to flood the US market with their technology, which presents real security risks and threats to Americans’ privacy and American research and industry. We must protect our country from these threats, starting with a ban on the federal government buying CCP technology.”
The bill’s language provides wiggle room for the Department of Homeland Security, the DoD, and the DOJ. They can still use the systems if it services national interests or if they’ve been modified to eliminate any data-sharing risk with foreign entities and are certified as secure.
The proposal has a moderate chance of making it to President Trump’s desk for approval. Whether he signs it probably depends on his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jingping when it hits his desk.
It’s a politically safe move for both major parties in the US, where attitudes about artificial intelligence have soured significantly since it captured the cultural zeitgeist in late 2022. Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders have proposed a moratorium of new AI datacenter construction until comprehensive federal regulations are considered.
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