How to Enter the US Market as a Chinese Robot Manufacturer

A realistic playbook for Chinese robotics companies entering the US in 2026. Written for founders and BD leads who already have a product working in China and want to know what changes for the US.

Step 1 — Pick the US business structure

Most Chinese robotics companies entering the US set up either:

A wholly-owned US subsidiary (Delaware LLC or C-Corp) — the cleanest model. Required if you're going to hire US staff, sign large enterprise contracts, or raise from US VCs.
A direct-export model with a US distributor — lower cost, faster start. Works for consumer/SMB SKUs sold through Amazon or specialty retailers.
A hybrid US sales representative with the contracting entity remaining in China — practical for B2B integrations under $1M.

Tax and IP implications differ for each. Get a US tax advisor before incorporating.

Step 2 — Certifications (the part this site exists for)

For any wireless robot:

FCC — mandatory federal requirement. See our FCC certification guide.
US Agent for service of process — required by 47 CFR § 2.909. We provide this service.

For commercial / public-space robots:

UL 3300 — increasingly required by buyers, insurers, and large retail partners. See our UL 3300 guide.

For medical or healthcare-adjacent robots:

FDA pathway (510(k), De Novo, or PMA depending on classification) — a separate, much longer process.

For consumer products:

CPSC compliance (general consumer-product safety)
California Prop 65 labeling
State e-waste registration in many states

Step 3 — Address the China lab ban

The FCC voted on April 30, 2026 to propose banning Chinese-mainland and Hong Kong labs from issuing equipment-authorization reports. If you're starting US certification work in 2026:

Don't book a Chinese lab for any test report you'll need after the rule's effective date.
Default to a Taiwan lab (SGS Taiwan, Bureau Veritas Taipei) for the best balance of cost, Mandarin support, and acceptance certainty.
Plan 8–12 weeks of lead time instead of the historical 4–6.

Step 4 — Distribution

Three channels matter for most Chinese robotics SKUs:

1. Amazon US — fastest path for consumer SKUs. Brand Registry is mandatory; require a US Agent and an FCC ID for any wireless product.
2. Specialty retailers — Best Buy, Costco. Slow onboarding; expect 6–12 months. Strong margins.
3. Direct enterprise — restaurants, hotels, warehouses. Higher-touch, higher-margin. Need a US-resident sales person or a strong distributor.

Pudu, Keenon and Gausium all use a hybrid of (1) and (3). Unitree leans heavily on (1).

Step 5 — IP protection

The US works on first-to-file. Apply for:

US utility patents for novel mechanical or software features
US design patents for distinctive external industrial design
US trademark for brand name + logo, before launching at retail

A US IP attorney is mandatory here. Budget $5,000 – $15,000 per patent application.

Step 6 — Liability insurance

Almost all enterprise customers require:

Product liability ($1M – $5M minimum)
Commercial general liability ($1M)
Cyber liability if your robot connects to customer networks ($1M)

US insurance carriers will ask for UL listings before quoting on robotics products. Plan accordingly.

Step 7 — The "soft" parts

English-language documentation that doesn't read like a translation. This matters more than most Chinese manufacturers expect.
US time-zone support — a single human reachable during US business hours.
Replacement parts in a US warehouse — overnight shipping is the floor.
A trade-show calendar that includes CES, MODEX (or ProMat), Automate, and NRA Show.

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