Yuyuan Tiantian | A New Chinese HS Code Triggers Major Anxiety in the US

Recently, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has repeatedly introduced restrictive measures targeting China-related advanced robotic equipment, power inverters, and other products. On August 5, the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments announced countermeasures against the above-mentioned series of negative US actions targeting China.

On July 28 local time, the FCC announced import restrictions on foreign-made advanced robots, including Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, once again citing "national security" as the rationale.

At the recent World Artificial Intelligence Conference, a US AI scholar told Tan Zhu that most US AI research laboratories are using Chinese robots.

Wanting to use them while simultaneously imposing restrictions—what is the mindset of the US government? An interesting perspective for observation is:

In January this year, China specifically updated a customs tariff code, categorizing robots such as humanoid and quadruped models under "intelligent bionic robots," with the exclusive HS code "84798970."

According to Cui Fan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, the addition of the tariff code closely follows the actual development of the industry. When an industry grows to a certain scale, separate statistical tracking and management are objectively required to achieve effective regulation. In other words, the supporting system keeps pace with industrial development.

The data is straightforward: After the new tariff code was implemented, the export value of intelligent bionic robots surged more than fivefold in just six months. This was not a gradual climb, but a leap.

Data from research institutions shows that in 2025, approximately 90% of humanoid robots shipped globally came from Chinese manufacturers. In the first half of the year, Chinese robots were exported to 169 countries and regions worldwide.

Seeing that Chinese robots have already been "sold globally" while they are still studying "investment and factory construction," the anxious US government can only resort to "restrict first."

However, it is worth noting that since the new tariff code took effect in January, the country with the highest volume of Chinese intelligent bionic robot exports has been the United States. Meanwhile, the US is also the second-largest export market for Chinese robots.

In fact, on the same day the US government announced the restriction order, representatives of Chinese and US companies sat down together in Salt Lake City to discuss cooperation, including Chinese companies involved in robotics. Last week, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade led 22 Chinese companies on a tour across the US, engaging with over 120 US enterprises and institutions. Throughout the trip, US companies were very explicit, frequently mentioning their focus on "Chinese innovation." Moreover, attendance far exceeded expectations—many US entrepreneurs were calling the day before the meetings to ask if extra seats could be added, eager to meet with members of the Chinese business community.

What the US government wants to cut off is precisely what US companies want.

Recently, the US has continuously suppressed and sanctioned Chinese companies for various reasons, many of which involve the latest achievements in China's technological development.

Resorting to restrictions when unable to compete—such practices warrant the question:

Have Americans lost their self-confidence?

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