The VDMA has criticised a US ban on importing mobile and humanoid robots, warning it will stifle innovation and disrupt global supply chains. Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann argued that the protectionist measure undermines American re-industrialisation and risks flooding European markets with diverted products. The association is calling for common safety standards and transatlantic partnerships instead of trade barriers.
From the perspective of the mechanical and plant engineering sector, the aim of building a strong domestic robotics industry in the US is understandable. At the same time, in the face of a skills shortage and international competitive pressure, American industry needs to boldly accelerate automation. Cooperation with European robotics and automation suppliers is of particular importance in this regard. The new market access restrictions will make this cooperation considerably more difficult.
The VDMA doubts that new national value chains can be established quickly enough in this way to support the US’s ambitious re-industrialisation targets. “The use of transatlantic synergies in AI-based robotics promises significantly greater benefits. Common standards, trustworthy partnerships and close cooperation between European and American technology providers increase resilience to cyber-attacks more effectively than local manufacturing quotas,” emphasises Brodtmann.
The association also takes a critical view of the measure’s introduction at short notice and without prior warning. Whilst FCC-certified robot models may still be imported, this falls short of what is required. Innovation cycles for AI-based, mobile and humanoid robot systems are exceptionally rapid, meaning that new model generations come onto the market at short intervals.
The import ban also applies to inverters, which will put European manufacturers under even greater pressure, as the corresponding export volumes are now expected to flood the European market. It is therefore all the more important that national and European policymakers consistently rule out potential cyber security risks to critical infrastructure posed by manufacturers from untrustworthy states.
The VDMA calls on national and European policymakers to resolutely oppose this latest example of US protectionism and to champion open markets, fair competitive conditions and the strengthening of transatlantic innovation partnerships. “The future of robotics will be shaped by innovation, cooperation and common safety standards, not by new trade barriers. Europe and the US should pool their technological strengths rather than holding each other back,” says Brodtmann.
