FCC expands foreign gadget import bans to drones, routers, robots and robovacs

The US government is moving to block new Chinese consumer electronics from entering the country, marking the first time everyday gadgets face de facto import bans. The restrictions began with a December 2025 Federal Communications Commission rule barring future foreign drones unless companies obtain a waiver. The FCC later extended similar limits to routers, robots, power inverters, and robot vacuums, citing national security concerns. The article notes that the government has not publicly presented evidence of a threat from these devices or addressed existing units already in use. It also points out that most drones and routers are manufactured overseas, so few US firms could easily replace the affected supply.