The U.S. is building barriers around drones and robots, but China has scale to get around them

Washington announced new restrictions on foreign-made advanced robotic systems and tariffs on drones and components, with duties starting in September and further tariffs planned for 2027. Chinese firms shipped 22,000 humanoid robots in the first half of 2024, accounting for 86% of global volume, using large-scale production, in-house parts and lower costs. U.S. firms remain smaller, emphasizing AI, software and semiconductor innovation. As U.S. market access tightens, Chinese manufacturers are expected to focus on domestic and price-sensitive overseas markets.