Vertex Ventures, a Temasek-backed venture capital firm with significant investments in Chinese robotics companies such as Unitree Robotics, is advocating for Chinese robotics firms to establish genuine operations in Singapore as a pathway to access the U.S. market following new restrictions imposed by the Trump administration in July 2026. These restrictions bar new foreign-made humanoid and mobile robots from entering the U.S. on national security grounds, effectively shutting out Chinese manufacturers from the world's largest consumer market at a time when they are leading in robotics innovation [1].
Choon Chong Tay, managing partner at Vertex Ventures China, stated that Chinese-affiliated startups could still reach American buyers by anchoring their day-to-day operations, hiring, and control of critical components in Singapore. He emphasized that if these companies have 'substantial content' in Singapore, particularly control over the chips powering the robots, they could address the U.S. market, referencing international trade rules that assign a product's origin based on where it is substantially transformed [1].
Vertex Ventures manages nearly $3 billion across U.S. dollar- and yuan-denominated funds and has a portfolio that includes Unitree, Horizon Robotics, Geek+, Edge Medical, and Lightelligence. According to Kangyuxiao Li, an equity analyst at Morningstar, Unitree generates more than 40% of its revenue overseas, with about 18% coming from the U.S., making the American market significant for the company. Li noted that losing access to the U.S. could noticeably affect Unitree's revenue growth [1].
Tay expressed optimism that economic factors would eventually outweigh political considerations, arguing that American consumers and businesses desire the affordable products made by Chinese factories, and no domestic industry currently fills that gap. He suggested that if a Singapore-certified robot is safe and competitively priced, there would be little reason to prevent its export to the U.S. Tay also highlighted that Vertex's investment focus has shifted heavily toward hardware, with 'physical intelligence'—the fusion of AI and robotics—being the defining industry thesis for the next decade, which he predicts will become ten times larger than the auto sector [1].
CONCLUSION
The Trump administration's ban on foreign-made humanoid and mobile robots has prompted Chinese robotics firms and their investors to explore Singapore as a strategic base for accessing the U.S. market. While the restrictions pose a significant challenge, Vertex Ventures believes that operational shifts and economic incentives could eventually reopen the U.S. market to these companies.