Apple Asks Trump Administration for Waiver to Buy RAM From Blacklisted Chinese Supplier

*Apple seeks an exception to source memory chips from CXMT amid rising component costs that have already forced product price increases.*

Apple has asked the Trump administration for permission to purchase RAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies, a Chinese supplier blacklisted by the Pentagon. The request aims to ease supply constraints and high prices that prompted Apple to raise prices across most of its product line this week.

The company is not legally prohibited from dealing with CXMT. The Pentagon placed the firm on its blacklist because of alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army. Six people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Apple has made direct contact with administration officials to secure an exception.

CXMT produces DRAM used in computers and mobile devices. Apple’s interest reflects broader industry pressure from elevated memory and storage prices. The company has already passed some of those costs to customers through higher Mac and iPhone pricing.

Reputational concerns remain even if a waiver is granted. Doing business with a firm linked to the Chinese military carries political and public-relations risks that extend beyond immediate regulatory questions.

Supply-chain pressure

Apple’s move follows months of tight memory markets. Samsung and other established suppliers have been unable to meet demand at previous price levels. Alternative sourcing from a lower-cost producer such as CXMT could reduce input costs, yet the political overlay makes the decision more complex than a standard procurement choice.

The two source reports agree on the core facts: Apple is seeking the waiver, CXMT is blacklisted, and memory prices have risen sharply enough to affect Apple’s pricing. Neither report provides details on the administration’s response or on any internal Apple estimates of potential savings.

Why it matters

Apple’s request tests how strictly the current administration will enforce restrictions on Chinese military-linked suppliers when a major U.S. company claims supply-chain hardship. If the waiver is granted, other firms may pursue similar exceptions, weakening the practical effect of the blacklist. If denied, Apple will face continued high costs or must find other approved sources that may not exist at scale. The outcome will show whether export-control policy can accommodate short-term commercial pressure without formal changes to the blacklist itself.

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Sources:

• The Verge
• AppleInsider

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