President directs negotiations to curb robotics and industrial machinery imports

Proclamation 11077, dated October 28, 2026 and published in the Federal Register (Vol. 91, No. 210, pages 69199-69202; FR Doc No. 2026-22385), states that imports of robotics, industrial machinery and their components are being brought into the United States in quantities that threaten national security. The proclamation follows a report from the Secretary of Commerce, submitted under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which highlighted the sector's role in defense systems, critical infrastructure and an estimated $7.1 trillion in manufactured-goods shipments and $86 billion in equipment production in 2024.

The President concurs with the Secretary's finding and, under the authority of section 232(d), directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to jointly pursue negotiations with appropriate foreign trading partners to adjust those imports. The directive also requires the President to be updated on negotiation progress within 180 days of the proclamation's issuance.

The proclamation notes that the United States relies heavily on foreign sources for most robotics and industrial machinery, that certain foreign entities pose cybersecurity and safety risks, and that domestic capacity is insufficient to meet national-security needs. The stated purpose of the negotiations is to prevent the threatened impairment of national security arising from continued import reliance.