Apple seeks Trump approval to buy Chinese memory chips amid price

Apple has asked the Trump administration to clear its purchase of DRAM from China’s CXMT, a firm on the Pentagon’s 1260H blacklist, as rising memory prices force the iPhone maker to raise Mac and iPad prices【1】. The request underscores how the global memory shortage is now shaping corporate supply‑chain strategy and U.S. national‑security policy.

Supply pressure and price hikes

Apple’s push follows a “brutal” global memory crunch driven largely by AI‑related demand, which has pushed component costs higher for many hardware makers【4】. In late June 2026 the company announced price increases on several MacBook and iPad models, citing “rising memory and storage chip costs” as the primary driver【1】. CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that Apple had “no choice” but to raise prices and hinted that sourcing memory from Chinese firms could be a solution if regulatory approval were granted【1】. The firm’s lobbying began with a contact to the U.S. Commerce Department about a month ago and has since expanded to the White House, according to six people familiar with the matter【1】【2】.

Geopolitical and competitive context

CXMT, which reported over 700% year‑over‑year revenue growth in Q1 2026 and is preparing a roughly $4 billion Shanghai IPO, sits on the Pentagon’s 1260H list for alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army【4】. While Apple is not legally barred from buying CXMT chips, the blacklist means any purchase would require a license; otherwise the Defense Department could not use products that incorporate those components, potentially cutting off a large U.S. government customer base【3】. Apple is also in talks with Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) for NAND flash, seeking to diversify away from dominant suppliers Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron【4】. Past attempts to source from Chinese memory firms have drawn political criticism, with lawmakers warning that such deals could bolster China’s strategic tech sector【3】.

What to watch

• Regulatory outcome: Whether the White House grants a license for CXMT DRAM purchases, and if the Defense Department imposes any usage restrictions.
• Supply‑chain impact: Any subsequent announcements of additional memory‑chip contracts or shifts in Apple’s component sourcing strategy.
• Political response: Statements from key congressional figures (e.g., House China Committee chair) that could influence future approvals or trigger legislative action.

Apple’s lobbying highlights a rare convergence of supply‑chain economics and national‑security policy, raising the question of how U.S. tech giants will navigate component shortages when preferred suppliers sit on government blacklists.