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Lawmakers, industry clash on banning Chinese robots and shoring up supply chains
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Summary
At a House Science subcommittee hearing, witnesses warned of supply-chain dependencies on Chinese components and proposed measures from tax incentives to bans; industry witnesses disagreed on immediate bans, urging careful sequencing to avoid cutting off critical inputs.
The subcommittee's questioning turned to supply-chain vulnerabilities, trade remedies and national-security risks posed by foreign-made robotics and components.
Multiple witnesses described heavy U.S. dependence on foreign sources for sensors, actuators, rare-earth magnets and chips. Jeff Bernstein flagged shortages and skills gaps; Michael Robbins and Evan Beard described large-scale Chinese investment in robotics and urged aggressive policy responses to prevent strategic dependence.
Beard said the United States is at risk from subsidized foreign competition and suggested import restrictions. "I think we should take action to ban Chinese robots and probably give some notice, 6 to 12 months," he told the subcommittee. Robbins echoed that position, saying the U.S. must "move away from adversarial supply chains." Both witnesses linked market distortions to national-security consequences.
Bernstein and others counseled caution, noting that some critical components—including rare-earth magnets and other inputs—are currently produced mostly abroad. "Whether or not banning Chinese robots is a good idea, I'm not sure," Bernstein said, warning that an abrupt ban could remove access to parts the U.S. still needs while domestic capacity is built.
Dr. Susan Helper and other witnesses proposed a mix of approaches: gradual trade measures, production and procurement incentives, and investments to reshore production for strategic inputs. Helper recommended targeted grants and public-private collaborations to expand manufacturing capacity and workforce skills rather than immediate outright bans.
On cybersecurity and safety, members and witnesses urged stronger product review and certification. Representative Foster asked whether the U.S. needs an agency that can 'call balls and strikes' on trusted silicon and critical software. Bernstein and others noted existing safety standards and suggested national labs, NIST and consensus standards as starting points; witnesses agreed more binding certification or procurement conditions may be necessary for life‑critical deployments.
No formal policy or vote was taken. Members signaled further work on legislative tools, including HR 7334 and proposals modeled on existing drone restrictions, while staff and agencies were asked to provide additional information during the record‑open period.
