Apple is lobbying the US government for permission to purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese manufacturer currently placed on the Pentagon’s blacklist, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The request underscores the growing tension between Apple’s need for cost-effective memory components and the tightening of US export restrictions on Chinese tech firms.
CXMT, one of China’s leading DRAM producers, has been subject to strict controls that limit its access to advanced manufacturing equipment and foreign suppliers.
Apple’s pursuit of approval signals a strategic effort to diversify its supply chain amid rising memory chip prices.
The company has faced mounting pressure to manage component costs while adhering to US regulatory frameworks that restrict trade with certain Chinese entities.
The development adds another layer to the ongoing semiconductor supply-chain realignment, as major tech firms navigate geopolitical constraints and market volatility.