"Trump Administration Turns Attention to Robotics Industry After AI"

Politico: "Secretary Lutnick Meets with Robotics Industry CEOs"

According to a report by the U.S. political media outlet Politico on December 3 (local time), the Donald Trump administration is turning its attention to the robotics industry, following its focus on artificial intelligence (AI).

Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Citing anonymous sources, Politico reported that Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, has recently held a series of meetings with chief executive officers in the robotics sector and is making a full-scale effort to accelerate the development of the robotics industry. Some sources indicated that the Trump administration is considering issuing an executive order related to the robotics industry in 2026.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce told Politico, "Robotics and advanced manufacturing are central to bringing critical production back to the United States, and that is why we are committed to this." The U.S. Department of Transportation is also reportedly preparing to announce a robotics working group within the year.

Politico pointed out that these moves by the United States demonstrate that robotics is becoming the next most important sector after AI in the U.S.-China rivalry. According to statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China installed 295,000 new industrial robots last year, accounting for about 54% of the global total. As of 2023, there are 1.8 million industrial robots operating in Chinese factories-four times the number in the United States.

With assessments that China is ahead of the United States in the field of robotics, there are growing calls that the U.S. will need large-scale investments and active support policies to catch up. Politico reported that the U.S. robotics industry is seeking to strengthen the robotics supply chain and is hoping for tax incentives or federal funding, while also demanding trade policies to counter practices such as China’s industrial subsidies.

Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Government Affairs at Boston Dynamics, stated, "There is now a recognition that advanced robotics is very important to the United States in terms of manufacturing, technology, national security, defense applications, and public safety," adding that "China’s efforts to dominate the future of robotics are also drawing attention."

Following this news, Tesla shares closed up 4.08% from the previous trading day on the New York Stock Exchange. Tesla, which is developing the humanoid robot 'Optimus,' is considered a leading company in the U.S. robotics sector.