Apple could be banned from buying Chinese memory chips

Due to the global shortage of memory chips, Apple is looking for new suppliers in China. US politicians are now calling on the government to strictly ban the purchase of components from manufacturers CXMT and YMTC for national security reasons.

Apple is looking for new chip suppliers

Apple is seeking approval to source components from Chinese manufacturers amid a global shortage of memory components. High demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is leading to a shortage of DRAM memory chips. In order to avoid bottlenecks in production and limit costs, Apple is looking for additional suppliers. US politicians are now calling on the government under President Donald Trump to stop such transactions.

They fear that purchasing hardware from companies like ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) could endanger U.S. national security. US MPs like John Moolenaar warn that American technology companies could indirectly support China’s military development through corresponding orders.

Dependency warning

As the Financial Times reports, Apple is committed to getting permission to trade with CXMT. The company is on a US Department of Defense list of companies with military connections, but there is currently no express trade ban on US corporations. Politicians are pushing to put CXMT on the Commerce Department’s blacklist.

In addition to CXMT, which specializes in DRAM, the focus is also on NAND producer Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC). Both companies were built with government support to reduce China’s dependence on Western suppliers.

Consequences for the world market

The market for memory components has so far been dominated by companies such as Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix. They are investing billions in new factories. Nevertheless, manufacturers are currently barely able to meet the demand for memory chips for data centers and other applications, which is causing prices to rise.

Working with Chinese suppliers could help Apple reduce production costs and stabilize supply chains. At the same time, critics warn of a greater dependence on suppliers from China and possible disadvantages for Western producers. The US government must weigh economic interests and security risks.