Washington Update

The Federal Communications Commission last Tuesday added foreign-produced robots and power inverters to its Covered List, citing concerns over the security of technology and energy infrastructure. Placement on the list bars products from sale in the United States. The restrictions do not explicitly identify any country but primarily affect Chinese industry, including Unitree Robotics and over 150 other Chinese humanoid robotics companies, as well as leading power inverter manufacturers Huawei and Sungrow.

The Office of the US Trade Representative announced tariffs on more than 80 countries following its Section 301 investigation into forced labor enforcement — just in time to replace the Section 122 global tariffs that expired today. All Chinese imports are now subject to a 12.5% duty, up from the 10% they faced under Section 122.

At the Aspen Security Forum and in an accompanying Bloomberg interview this week, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reiterated that the new managed trade framework with China will focus on purchase commitments and tariffs.

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) will soon formally review extending the first batch of Section 301 tariffs covering $34 billion worth of imports from China from Trump’s first term, including medical devices, robotics, and aerospace products.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027 is coming into focus after the House and Senate armed services committees advanced their versions of the bill earlier this month.

The Department of Defense (DOD) on Monday released an updated 1260H list, which designates Chinese military-linked companies. Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu, automaker BYD, biotech firm WuXi AppTec, robotics company RoboSense Technology, and router maker TP-Link are among those newly added.

The Office of the US Trade Representative on Tuesday issued a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on the planned US-China Board of Trade. The mechanism, a key deliverable of the recent presidential summit in Beijing, aims to identify $30 billion of non-sensitive goods to reduce or eliminate tariffs on.

The United States and China agreed to pursue “constructive strategic stability” during President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing last week, announcing purchase deals and plans for trade and investment boards. Both sides confirmed that President Xi Jinping would visit the White House in September.

Tension is building just a week before Trump’s high-stakes visit to China, and US officials are tempering expectations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday downplayed deliverables for the summit, set for May 14 to 15, noting only that the United States will “push forward the consensus” reached with China last year.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday advanced all 23 export controls related bills included in its markup, sending a strong message of support for enhanced controls and enforcement. Several bills, including the ADVERSARIES Act and STRIDE Act, passed unanimously, with most others receiving broad, bipartisan support.