Choon Chong Tay, managing partner at Temasek-backed VC firm Vertex Ventures China, stated that despite new US restrictions on advanced robotics, Chinese robotics companies can still access the US market by establishing genuine operations in Singapore, including daily operations, recruitment, and control over key components. This move aims to circumvent the Donald Trump administration's July ban on foreign-made humanoid robots and other mobile robots from entering the US, citing national security concerns. Vertex Ventures China's portfolio includes humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree Robotics, which derives about 18% of its revenue from the US market. Tay believes that if Singapore-certified robots are safe and reasonably priced, economic factors will ultimately outweigh political considerations. However, this circumvention strategy remains untested, and international trade rules typically determine the country of origin based on where a product undergoes "substantial transformation."