Rising memory costs may be pushing Apple toward an unusual supply-chain option. However, that commercial request could also become part of a much larger diplomatic discussion between Washington and Beijing.
According to a report based on an unverified Chinese leak, Apple has sought permission to purchase memory from Chinese producer CXMT. The company is currently blacklisted in the United States, making any potential deal politically sensitive.
White House Could Link Approval to China Talks
The claim comes from a Weibo account called “Mobile Chip Expert.” It suggests the Trump administration is examining Apple’s request and considering how it could support wider U.S.-China negotiations.
According to the report, Washington could allow Apple to purchase memory from CXMT and YMTC. The announcement could reportedly follow a September meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Therefore, approval could serve as a commercial gesture toward Beijing. In theory, it could encourage stronger business ties while giving Apple another source of memory components.
Chinese Chips May Stay Out of U.S. iPhones
The reported proposal also contains an important limitation. Apple would allegedly use the Chinese memory mainly in products made for China’s domestic market.
That approach could help Apple manage global supplies without placing blacklisted Chinese memory inside U.S.-bound iPhones. Moreover, using CXMT chips in China could free memory from other suppliers for devices sold elsewhere.
Major Questions Remain Over the Rumor
Despite the strategic logic, the report remains highly uncertain. The original article itself rates the rumor “unlikely” and stresses that its source has questionable reliability.
More importantly, the claim had not received confirmation from major news organizations when the source article was published. The report notes that wider coverage focused mainly on the market reaction rather than confirming the alleged White House plan.
For now, the story highlights how semiconductor sourcing can intersect with international diplomacy. Yet without stronger confirmation, Apple’s proposed Chinese memory purchases remain a possibility rather than an established U.S. policy.
