Apple Lobbies Trump Administration for Clearance to Buy Chips from Blacklisted Chinese Firm CXMT

*Apple wants permission to source memory chips from CXMT despite the company’s placement on the Pentagon’s Chinese Military Company blacklist.*

The request

Apple is seeking clearance from the Trump administration to purchase memory chips from CXMT, a Chinese company the Pentagon has placed on its 1260H blacklist over alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army. The Financial Times reported the effort, citing six people familiar with the matter.

CXMT is described in the reporting as China’s national champion in memory-chip production. Apple is not currently prohibited from buying from the firm, yet the blacklist status requires explicit approval before any purchases can proceed.

Prior status

Both CXMT and YMTC, another Chinese memory-chip maker, sit on the same Pentagon list. The companies remain eligible for commercial transactions unless the administration grants specific exemptions or Congress imposes tighter restrictions.

The lobbying effort marks a shift from the prior approach, in which US firms largely avoided direct dealings with entities on the 1260H list to limit political and regulatory risk.

Likely pushback

The reporting notes that Congress would probably object strongly to any administration decision that blesses purchases from CXMT. No formal response from lawmakers or the administration has been recorded yet.

Why it matters

The request places Apple in the middle of an ongoing contest over control of advanced memory supply chains. If clearance is granted, the company gains an additional domestic-Chinese source for DRAM components; if denied, it must continue relying on suppliers outside the blacklist. Either outcome will shape how other US technology firms weigh similar sourcing decisions against national-security designations that carry no automatic purchase ban.

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Sources:

• Engadget
• Daring Fireball

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