[Young Journalist Jacob Siyun Sung] The Trump administration has reportedly recognized the growing robotics industry as the next strategic innovative sector following A.I, and has begun providing full-scale support.

Politico reported on December 3rd that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently engaged in a series of meetings with leading CEOs in the robotics industry as part of an effort to accelerate the robotics industry of the U.S. robotics industry. 

Out of the three anonymous sources cited in the report, two claimed that the administration is considering the enactment of an executive order next year regarding the robotics sector. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce told Politico, “Robotics and advanced manufacturing are key to bringing critical production back to the United States, and we are fully committed to that mission.”

Additionally, Politico reported that the U.S. Department of Transportation is preparing to announce a robotics working group before the end of this year.

These advances towards the robotics industry suggest that robotics could be the next major competing front following artificial intelligence for major countries like the United States and China. .

According to statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China installed 295,000 industrial robots last year, which was roughly 54% of all new installations worldwide.

Politico, citing IFR estimates, stated that as of 2023, China had 1.8 million industrial robots operating in factories, or four times more than the United States. 

Given this situation, the U.S. would need substantial investment and supportive policies to catch up with China.

The American robotics industry is expecting the implementation of government policy measures such as federal funding to encourage innovation. The government may also seek to establish trade to counter China’s industrial subsidies and intellectual property practices, Politico reported.

Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Public Policy at robotics company Boston Dynamics, said, “It is now recognized that advanced robotics is highly important to the United States in manufacturing, technology, national security, defense applications, and public safety,” adding, “China’s efforts to dominate the future of robotics are also drawing attention.”

Following the media reports, Tesla’s share price surged on the New York Stock Exchange, climbing more than 4% during intraday trading.

Tesla, which is developing the humanoid robot “Optimus,” is considered a leading robotics company in the United States.

▶원문 기사: 트럼프, 이번엔 로봇에 눈 돌렸다…美 'AI 다음 전선' 본격 가동 (이코노미스트, 2025. 12. 4) 

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