U.S. Robot Makers at 2025 Boston Expo Aim to Surpass China in Humanoid Robotics Amid Trade Tensions

US • Business • 05/01 20:31
U.S. Robot Makers at 2025 Boston Expo Aim to Surpass China in Humanoid Robotics Amid Trade Tensions

At the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, U.S. robot manufacturers showcased advancements in humanoid robotics to compete with Chinese firms. The event highlighted innovation but was overshadowed by U.S.-China trade tensions, including tariffs affecting supply chains. Companies like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics are focusing on domestic production to mitigate these challenges. Chinese firm Unitree Robotics presented its G1 humanoid, facing high tariffs in the U.S. The geopolitical climate is also impacting talent acquisition and prompting American firms to accelerate automation despite high labor costs.

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U.S. Robot Makers at 2025 Boston Expo Aim to Surpass China in Humanoid Robotics Amid Trade Tensions

At the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, U.S. robot manufacturers showcased advancements in humanoid robotics to compete with Chinese firms. The event highlighted innovation but was overshadowed by U.S.-China trade tensions, including tariffs affecting supply chains. Companies like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics are focusing on domestic production to mitigate these challenges. Chinese firm Unitree Robotics presented its G1 humanoid, facing high tariffs in the U.S. The geopolitical climate is also impacting talent acquisition and prompting American firms to accelerate automation despite high labor costs.

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U.S. Robotics Industry Eyes Leadership in Humanoids

The Boston Robotics Summit brought together thousands of engineers, executives, and technologists to discuss the future of robotics, with a particular focus on humanoid machines. While humanoids remain a niche segment, their potential to automate labor-intensive tasks in factories and warehouses is drawing increasing attention.

Oregon-based Agility Robotics is among the U.S. companies leading the charge. Its humanoid robot, Digit, is now being deployed at a U.S. plant operated by German auto parts manufacturer Schaeffler. “It’s added some inconveniences to our own supply chain. But it’s also opened up opportunities,” said Pras Velagapudi, Agility’s Chief Technology Officer. The company is betting on domestic deployment to reduce reliance on foreign components and navigate the uncertainties of international trade.

Boston Dynamics, owned by Hyundai, also presented updates on its Atlas humanoid robot. Although the company did not bring a physical prototype, it demonstrated its four-legged Spot robots, which have already seen commercial use. The company’s CTO, Aaron Saunders, sidestepped tariff discussions during his keynote, but the topic remained a dominant undercurrent throughout the event.

Tariffs Cast a Long Shadow Over Innovation

Though not officially on the summit’s agenda, tariffs were the most discussed issue in hallways and informal gatherings. “Tariffs are the No. 1 topic that we’re discussing in the hallways and at the water cooler,” said Steve Crowe, chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo. The uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy, particularly under President Donald Trump’s administration, has left many companies scrambling to adapt.

The complexity of humanoid robots—comprising motors, actuators, semiconductors, sensors, batteries, and rare earth magnets—makes them especially vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. China’s recent countermeasures, including restrictions on rare earth magnet exports, have already impacted U.S. firms. Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned investors that these restrictions would delay the development of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot.

Chinese Presence and Competitive Pressure

Despite the trade tensions, Chinese robotics firms made a visible impact at the summit. The only humanoid robot physically present on the show floor was the G1 from China’s Unitree Robotics. Marketed at $16,000, the G1 impressed attendees with its fluid movements, handshakes, and crowd interactions. However, due to U.S. tariffs totaling 145% on Chinese imports, the robot’s price for American buyers could rise to around $40,000, according to Tony Yang, Unitree’s Vice President of Business Development.

Yang acknowledged the narrow market for humanoids but emphasized long-term ambitions. “There’s still a huge potential market on the industry side, like for manufacturing and factory and even home use,” he said. Unitree’s strategy focuses on rapid development of both hardware and software, aiming to stay ahead in a competitive global race.

Domestic Production and Automation as Strategic Responses

The tariff environment is pushing many U.S. companies to consider onshoring production. Al Makke, Director of Engineering at Schaeffler’s chassis systems division, noted that while onshoring could mitigate tariff impacts, it introduces new challenges. “Local companies have to deal with high labor costs and a shortage of labor, and so automation gets pushed further,” Makke said. “And one of those faces of automation is humanoids.”

This shift is already visible in the automotive sector, where U.S. automakers increased robot installations by 9.6% over the past year, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Most of these robots are still imported from countries like Japan, Germany, and South Korea, but the trend toward domestic development is gaining momentum.

Supply Chain Complexity and Global Sourcing Challenges

The intricate anatomy of humanoid robots makes them particularly sensitive to supply chain disruptions. Haitham Eletrabi, CEO of Alabama-based Tennibot, which makes a wheeled robot that tosses pickleballs, described the challenge: “Injection molded parts, rivets, screws, nuts, wheels, motors, batteries—the supply chain gets very complex. We get parts from all over the world. Tariffs are adding a lot of uncertainty.”

This sentiment was echoed by other attendees, including representatives from European component suppliers like IMSystems, who are also navigating the ripple effects of U.S.-China trade tensions.

Talent Pipeline Concerns

Beyond hardware and supply chains, the political climate is also affecting talent acquisition. Francesca Torsiello of recruitment firm Adapt Talent reported growing hesitation among Canadian robotics professionals to accept U.S. job offers. “In the past, people in Canada found it attractive to come and work for U.S. companies; right now they’re being very hesitant,” she said.

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