Rainbow Robotics (277810.KS), a Samsung Electronics subsidiary, has asked the U.S. government for an exemption from new robot rules. The move came after Washington barred new certifications for humanoid robots, quadruped robots and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) made outside the United States, cutting off the export path for the company's mobile humanoid robot RB-Y1. About 20 Korean robot companies fall under the same rules, and many of them plan to file for exemptions within the year. Because the rules target China, some expect Korean companies to benefit indirectly, but there are also strong concerns that startups without the means to meet U.S. local production requirements will face a heavier burden.
Rainbow Robotics applied late last month for conditional approval under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, the first Korean company to do so, industry officials said on the 12th. According to the office of Rep. Seo Ji-young of the People Power Party, about 20 Korean companies planned to export robots to the United States through 2027 as of the FCC announcement. They develop humanoid robots, quadruped robots and AMRs, and about half have signed direct export contracts with U.S. companies. The rest either export robots to the United States through other companies or are in talks to do so. If the rules close off the U.S. market, significant damage is unavoidable.
The FCC reviews whether wireless and electronic devices sold in the United States meet standards for radio interference and communications security, and issues equipment certifications. On July 28, the commission added advanced mobile robots produced abroad to its "covered list" of equipment deemed a national security risk. Products on the list cannot receive certification for new models, which effectively bars them from sale in the United States. Existing models that already hold certification can continue to be sold, and stationary robots such as industrial robot arms are excluded. To avoid the rules, a product must be made in the United States with U.S.-made components accounting for more than 65% of total component costs. That threshold rises to 75% starting in 2029. Because the test is where a product is made rather than the nationality of the company, Korean companies are not exempt. Products that the U.S. Department of War determines pose no national security risk, however, can obtain conditional approval and be freed from the rules. The filing deadline is Jan. 1, 2028.
Rainbow Robotics filed for conditional approval late last month, the first among Korean companies. It moved quickly after the rules blocked U.S. exports of its mobile humanoid robot RB-Y1. Other companies are also expected to file for conditional approval within the year.
The industry is watching whether Rainbow Robotics wins approval. Applicants must submit the nationality of shareholders holding 5% or more and of management, along with any foreign government influence; the country of origin of all components; and plans to expand U.S. production with an investment timeline. One industry official said the FCC rules were created to check Chinese companies on security grounds, so it should not be difficult for Korean companies to obtain conditional approval. "Many Korean robot companies export by supplying AMRs to U.S. factories, so if exports are blocked, U.S. companies are hurt as well," the official said.
The difficulty is that conditional approval also assumes expanded production in the United States. One startup official said it is hard to meet the U.S. component cost threshold even if only the actuators that serve as joints are sourced from Korea or China. "We also lack the capacity to attract large-scale investment and produce robots in the United States, so we are just waiting for further FCC guidelines," the official said.
Korean robot companies' exports to the United States reached 493.9 billion won ($346 million) in 2024, according to a survey of the robot industry. That was up 83% from 2021. Korean robot companies have grown quickly in the U.S. market on the strength of their technology, lower costs than U.S. rivals and security.
That is why some argue measures are needed to keep the growth from stalling. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement and the Korea AI Robot Industry Association have formed an FCC response support group and are gathering industry views. Rep. Seo Ji-young of the People Power Party said robots are a future growth industry for Korea and the United States is its core market. "This is a trade regulation that companies cannot handle on their own, so the government must take responsibility and prepare countermeasures," Seo said.
