Automation systems are essential to U.S. manufacturers, who warn that robotics tariffs would raise costs and hinder modernization efforts.

As the Trump Administration mulls slapping tariffs on foreign robotics, it’s being warned that such a move could disrupt efforts to revive manufacturing in the United States.

The U.S. Commerce Department has begun collecting comments in an investigation authorized by section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the agency to impose trade restrictions — such as tariffs or quotas — if imports are found to impair national security.

Opponents of tariffs, however, argue that the levies on foreign robotics would not only undermine national security but also hobble efforts to revive the U.S. manufacturing sector.

“A tariff on foreign robotics would raise the cost of capital investment for U.S. manufacturers who rely on this machinery to modernize and become more competitive,” explained Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research, in Las Vegas.

“This increased expense on essential automation tools would squeeze profit margins, especially for small-to-mid-sized firms, making their final products more expensive compared to international rivals who can acquire the same technology tariff-free,” he told TechNewsWorld.

“Essentially, tariffs could delay or derail the push to increase productivity and reshore manufacturing, undermining the very renaissance they are meant to protect,” he added.

Seil Kim, vice president of DN Solutions, a South Korean manufacturer of computer numerical control (CNC) and metal-cutting machine tools, and Daniel Medrea, executive vice president of DN Solutions America, a U.S. subsidiary established in 1994, pointed out in comments submitted to Commerce that while large corporations often capture headlines, the backbone of American manufacturing consists of thousands of small and medium enterprises.

“These companies, often family-owned job shops, depend on access to affordable, high-quality machine tools to remain competitive,” they stated.

“For many small manufacturers, purchasing a CNC machine represents a major capital investment that must deliver returns for decades,” they explained. “They need equipment that is not only capable but also supported by readily available service, training, and spare parts.”

“Imposing tariffs or restrictions on our equipment would place these critical capabilities out of reach for many small businesses, forcing them either to delay modernization or to seek lower-quality alternatives that could compromise their competitiveness,” they maintained. “The changes in price competitiveness could also increase the likelihood of substitution with lower-cost Chinese products, potentially posing a security threat.”

American companies need robots to lower labor costs, increase productivity, and assure factory uptime, added Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm, in Bend, Ore.

“In addition, existing robots become obsolete or wear out, and it is easier to replace robots with those from the same manufacturer than to switch providers,” he told TechNewsWorld.