● Covered by 5 sources · 9 reportsMedium impact1 negative3 neutral
Apple Seeks Approval to Source RAM from Blacklisted Chinese Supplier CXMT
Key points
- Apple tests CXMT RAM for China devices.
- CXMT blacklisted over military ties.
- Apple seeks U.S. approval for broader CXMT use.
- Rising RAM prices lead to Apple product hikes.
- CXMT is a key player in China's AI supply chain.
- Apple seeks U.S. approval to use CXMT chips in products sold outside China.
- Micron opposes Apple's use of Chinese memory chips.
- CXMT is the world's fourth-largest producer of DRAM.
- CXMT plans to raise at least 29.5 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) in an upcoming IPO.
- At least 15 state-owned shareholders collectively hold 36% of CXMT.
- Lawmakers want to ban exports of Chinese memory chips to the U.S.
- Lawmakers asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to prevent U.S. companies from purchasing semiconductors from blacklisted companies.
- Lawmakers called for CXMT to be added to the Entity List and additional restrictions on YMTC.
- Apple also seeks to purchase chips from Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC).
- YMTC is on the Commerce Department’s Entity List.
- The Pentagon added CXMT to its 1260H blacklist in early June.
- The Trump administration previously held off adding CXMT to the blacklist during trade negotiations.
Apple's Supply Chain Challenge
Apple is exploring new supply options in light of increasing RAM costs that have affected its product pricing. The company is testing random-access memory (RAM) chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for devices intended for sale in the Chinese market.
Approval from U.S. Authorities Sought
While legally permissible, collaborating with CXMT carries significant reputational risks due to the company's presence on a U.S. defense blacklist for alleged military ties. Apple is currently lobbying the U.S. government to approve the broader use of CXMT's products in an effort to stabilize its supply chain.
Geopolitical and Security Concerns
The use of Chinese components is a contentious issue amid heightened scrutiny of U.S.-China tech relations. The presence of state-owned shareholders in CXMT, along with national security concerns, has prompted U.S. lawmakers to call for tighter restrictions on imports from blacklisted companies.
Broader Implications
CXMT plays a role in China's ambition to develop a self-reliant AI supply chain. Its increasing foothold in the memory chip market, facilitated by potential ties with major international companies like Apple, underscores broader implications for global tech supply dynamics and U.S. national security policy.
Updates
- Apple seeks U.S. approval to use CXMT chips in products sold outside China.
- Micron opposes Apple's use of Chinese memory chips.
- CXMT is the world's fourth-largest producer of DRAM.
- CXMT plans to raise at least 29.5 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) in an upcoming IPO.
- At least 15 state-owned shareholders collectively hold 36% of CXMT.
- Lawmakers want to ban exports of Chinese memory chips to the U.S.
- Lawmakers asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to prevent U.S. companies from purchasing semiconductors from blacklisted companies.
- Lawmakers called for CXMT to be added to the Entity List and additional restrictions on YMTC.
- Apple also seeks to purchase chips from Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC).
- YMTC is on the Commerce Department’s Entity List.
- The Pentagon added CXMT to its 1260H blacklist in early June.
- The Trump administration previously held off adding CXMT to the blacklist during trade negotiations.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the Trump administration's opposition to Apple sourcing memory chips from Chinese companies CXMT and YMTC. This opposition comes as Apple seeks to diversify its supply chain amidst global shortages, but faces concerns over national security and competitive disadvantage.
Apple's strategy to mitigate memory chip shortages by purchasing from Chinese manufacturers CXMT and YMTC is becoming less viable due to potential US government restrictions and CXMT's production capacity limitations. This development complicates Apple's supply chain diversification efforts amid ongoing global chip constraints.
A bipartisan group of US senators has urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to commit by August 21 to not using memory chips from Chinese suppliers CXMT and YMTC, citing national security concerns and potential reliance on a US adversary. This pushback comes as Apple reportedly seeks US government approval to source components from these companies to address ongoing memory shortages.
Apple is lobbying the Trump administration to approve the use of memory chips from Chinese suppliers CXMT and YMTC in its products sold outside the US, facing opposition from Micron. Micron argues that allowing this could harm the domestic US memory chip industry due to state-subsidized Chinese competition. This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between US tech companies' supply chain diversification and national economic security concerns.
U.S. lawmakers are pushing to ban exports of memory chips from Chinese manufacturers CXMT and YMTC due to national security concerns. They argue this dependence risks undermining domestic suppliers and supports the growth of China's semiconductor industry.
Apple is testing DRAM chips from Chinese company CXMT, which is on a US blacklist due to security concerns. This move, part of Apple's efforts to address supply chain constraints, could lead to broader access to Chinese components for devices sold in China.
Apple is testing RAM chips from Chinese firm CXMT, which is blacklisted by the U.S. government, for products intended for sale in China. This move comes as Apple seeks U.S. government approval to source from CXMT amidst ongoing memory shortages.
Apple is testing DRAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies for devices sold in China, seeking U.S. approval for broader usage. This move comes amid geopolitical concerns and CXMT's push to become a key player in China's AI supply chain.
Apple is requesting an exemption from the Trump administration to purchase RAM from CXMT, a Chinese supplier connected to the military. This request comes amid rising RAM prices that have forced Apple to increase product prices and highlights ongoing tensions between U.S. and Chinese tech relations.