Apple wants to source memory chips from two Chinese manufacturers on a Pentagon blacklist – and is seeking backing from the White House. A previous attempt failed due to bipartisan opposition. Even the promise to use the chips only in iPhones sold in China didn't help at the time.
Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for permission to source memory chips from two Chinese manufacturers viewed critically in Washington. Behind this move lies the ongoing global shortage of RAM, which is significantly driving up Apple's component costs. Cheaper sources would be a welcome lever in this environment. The catch: This move is highly politically sensitive – and Apple has already encountered resistance with a nearly identical request.
What the initiative is about
At the center of the controversy are two companies: ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), which manufactures DRAM memory, and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), a manufacturer of 3D NAND flash memory. Both are on a US Department of Defense list that identifies Chinese companies with ties to the US military.
Legally, Apple is not prohibited from purchasing components from these manufacturers. Nevertheless, the company seeks explicit government approval beforehand – for two reasons. First, being listed on the Pentagon's list could lead to iPhones containing components from these manufacturers being banned for some or all of the employees of US federal agencies. Second, Apple generally strives to maintain good relations with the current administration. Both of these factors argue in favor of obtaining approval in advance rather than being presented with a fait accompli later.
A failed attempt from 2022
The plan is not new. Back in 2022, Apple sought similar approval under the Biden administration – and was unsuccessful. At that time, the commitment was also that the Chinese chips would only be used in iPhones intended for the Chinese market. However, this restriction was not enough to allay the concerns of critics.
Cross-party resistance in the Senate
The opposition came from both sides of the political spectrum. The US Senate Intelligence Committee sent a strongly worded letter to the administration, in which the members expressed their grave concern about a potential procurement of 3D NAND flash memory from YMTC. They warned that such a move would introduce significant data privacy and security risks into a global supply chain that Apple plays a major role in shaping – and pointed to the state-owned manufacturer's described opaque ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
A second objection focused on trade: Senators argued that a partnership with YMTC would reward unfair trade practices that disadvantage US companies worldwide, regardless of the market for which the products were ultimately intended. This effectively refuted the central argument Apple had used to justify the move. Reuters reported at the time that Apple intended to use the YMTC chips solely for iPhones sold in China - a claim that did little to appease the opposition.
Why the signs are hardly better today
The government is different today, but the overall political climate toward Chinese chip manufacturers is hardly more relaxed. One detail carries particular weight: Marco Rubio - the very politician who now serves as National Security Advisor under President Trump - was among the signatories of the Senate letter at the time. The fact that a voice that clearly rejected the proposal in 2022 now occupies a key security policy position makes a swift approval seem unlikely. Should Apple pursue this initiative, the company is likely to encounter familiar obstacles - only this time with a former critic in a crucial position.
Politics trumps supply chain
As understandable as Apple's economic interest in cheaper storage is, this case clearly demonstrates the limits of purely economic logic. The storage shortage puts Apple under cost pressure, but the route via Chinese manufacturers leads straight through a security minefield. As long as the same concerns exist as a few years ago – and as long as former opponents now have a say – it remains questionable whether this initiative will amount to anything more than another fruitless attempt. (Image: Shutterstock / Tartezy)
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