Richard Sanders- Kuala Lumpur
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on July 28, 2026, added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, effectively blocking new models of mobile robots such as humanoids and quadrupeds from receiving the equipment authorization required for import, marketing, or sale in the United States. The move, driven by national security concerns over supply-chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks, is being closely watched in Taiwan as a potential catalyst for the island’s robotics and component makers.
The FCC action followed determinations by a White House-convened interagency body that foreign-made advanced robotic devices pose “unacceptable risks” to U.S. national security and the safety of American persons. Covered devices are defined as mechanical mobile systems capable of ground locomotion, remote or sensor-based operation, weighing more than 4.4 pounds (including any docking station), and equipped with environmental sensors, network connectivity of at least 200 kilobits per second, and software for autonomous navigation, perception, data collection, or remote control. Existing authorized models remain unaffected; the restrictions apply only to new models seeking FCC approval.
“Foreign-produced” is determined under the Buy American standard: devices must be manufactured in the United States with domestic components exceeding 65 percent of total component cost (rising to 75 percent from 2029). Producers can seek Conditional Approval from the Department of War through a detailed supply-chain and risk assessment process, with applications due by January 1, 2028.
In Taipei, industry executives and analysts see the policy less as a broad barrier and more as an opportunity for Taiwan’s established strengths in precision components, electronics manufacturing services, and semiconductors. A senior executive at a Taiwanese robotics parts maker told Central News Agency that the ban primarily targets complete Chinese systems with data-transmission and remote-control capabilities, while Taiwanese suppliers of mechanical and actuator components—lacking such connectivity features—face limited direct impact. The same source highlighted three advantages for local firms: production of critical non-communications parts, alignment with U.S. “non-red” (China-free) supply-chain preferences, and growing plans by Taiwanese companies to establish U.S. manufacturing bases.
The Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) in Taipei framed the FCC decision as policy support for a “golden but narrowing” three-to-five-year window for democracies to build advanced robotics capacity outside China. Chinese vendors accounted for roughly 85 percent of global humanoid and quadruped shipments in 2025, yet real-world deployment remains limited. DSET identified around 180 Taiwanese entities active in the robotics supply chain and pointed to three core assets: EMS firms able to integrate complex systems, a dense precision-component ecosystem, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing led by TSMC. Analysts noted that Taiwanese firms are already partnering with U.S. humanoid developers on AI chips, vision modules, control systems, and actuators.
Companies such as Delta Electronics, Advantech, Techman Robot, Hiwin, and others are frequently cited as well-positioned. Some Taiwanese makers are emphasizing fully China-free bill of materials and exploring deeper U.S. production or Conditional Approval pathways. At the same time, the domestic-content threshold means that even Taiwan-assembled robots may need significant localization of components or U.S. final manufacturing to qualify as non-foreign-produced.
The ruling forms part of a broader U.S. effort to secure critical connected technologies, following earlier Covered List actions on certain routers and drones. For Taiwan, long positioned as a trusted partner in semiconductors and electronics, the robotics restrictions reinforce the strategic value of non-China supply chains. Whether Taiwanese firms can convert component expertise into larger shares of finished-system value—and secure the necessary U.S. manufacturing footprint or approvals—will help determine how much of the emerging market they capture in the years ahead.
Industry observers in Taipei note that the next several years will test Taiwan’s ability to scale trusted robotics capacity while global demand for secure, autonomous systems continues to grow.
