Trump declares robot imports a national security threat

President Donald Trump declared imports of foreign-made factory robots a national security threat, ordering new US negotiations with trading partners while leaving open the possibility of future tariffs on such imports. The October 28 proclamation cites a Commerce Department investigation under Secretary Howard Lutnick finding that such imports pose risks to the US industrial base and threaten long-term competitiveness in a sector increasingly vital to national security. The move could complicate manufacturing for companies relying on such robots, including General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.