US scrutiny of foreign robots, parts likely to benefit Korean makers

The United States’ heightened scrutiny of Chinese robots is expected to create a more favorable competitive landscape for Korean component makers such as LG Innotek and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, according to analysts and industry officials, Thursday. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 28 added foreign power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its covered list as they “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the U.S.” Under the new rules, new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters are “generally prohibited” from receiving FCC authorization for import into the U.S. However, the FCC said producers that receive Conditional Approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security can continue to receive FCC authorizations. The regulation did not directly refer to China, but it is widely seen as effectively targeting the country, as the U.S. has been seeking to contain China’s growing dominance of global supply chains for advanced robotics. The move is expected to have a particular impact on the m