Apple has reportedly asked the Trump administration for permission to buy Mac RAM chips from Chinese supplier CXMT. The request comes as the technology industry faces rising memory prices and tighter supply.
The global memory crisis has pushed up the cost of DRAM and other chips. As a result, Apple has already started passing some of those costs to consumers through higher hardware prices. However, the company appears to be searching for cheaper supply options.
Why CXMT Is Controversial
CXMT, short for ChangXin Memory Technologies, is not on the U.S. Entity List. However, it appears on the Chinese Military Company Blacklist, also known as the 1260H list.
That list includes firms the Pentagon believes may have links to China’s military. Because of this, any Apple deal with CXMT could create political and business risks.
The blacklist does not fully ban Apple from buying chips from CXMT. Still, it could affect Apple’s sales to parts of the U.S. government. The Defense Department cannot use products that contain components from companies on the list.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns
Some U.S. lawmakers are likely to oppose Apple’s request. House China Committee chair John Moolenaar reportedly warned that such a deal would be a serious mistake. He argued that it could make the U.S. technology industry more dependent on China.
Apple has faced similar pressure before. In 2022, the company considered using memory chips from YMTC for some iPhones sold in China. At the time, U.S. lawmakers strongly criticized the idea.
A Difficult Choice for Apple
Apple has a financial reason to seek more memory suppliers. More competition could help reduce costs and protect profit margins. In turn, that could limit future price increases for customers.
However, the political risk remains high. If CXMT later joins the Entity List, Apple could face sudden supply disruptions. For now, the company must balance cost control against national security concerns and Washington’s view of China-linked suppliers.
