Apple Pressures Trump Administration Over Restricted Chinese Memory Chips

Apple is lobbying the administration of President Donald Trump to approve the purchase of memory chips from a Chinese supplier currently blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a report by the Financial Times citing sources familiar with the matter.

The company is seeking permission to source components from CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies), one of China’s largest memory chip producers, despite its designation on a U.S. military-linked entities list, which significantly restricts commercial dealings.

According to the report, Apple has been in contact with the U.S. Department of Commerce for more than a month, alongside other officials and Washington-based allies, in an effort to secure an exemption.

The push highlights a growing tension between rising semiconductor costs and tightening U.S. national security restrictions on Chinese technology firms.

The dispute comes amid a broader surge in demand for memory chips, driven largely by rapid expansion in artificial intelligence infrastructure and global data center investment.

Apple has already begun raising prices on some devices, including iPads and MacBooks, citing higher input costs tied to memory and storage components. The company said earlier this week that it can no longer fully shield consumers from rising supply chain costs.

CXMT was designated by the U.S. Department of Defense as a “Chinese military-linked company” under previous policy frameworks, and later added to restricted export lists overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Companies seeking to transact with such entities must obtain licenses that are typically difficult to secure, effectively limiting direct commercial engagement.

The case underscores a broader dilemma facing major U.S. technology firms: balancing cost pressures from global semiconductor shortages with escalating geopolitical restrictions aimed at limiting reliance on Chinese supply chains.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously warned that rising component costs linked to AI-driven demand are becoming unavoidable, reinforcing the company’s shift toward higher device pricing.