Apple lobbies Trump administration for approval to purchase CXMT memory chips

Apple is seeking the Trump administration’s blessing to buy memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies, one of China’s fastest-growing semiconductor firms. The move places Apple squarely at the intersection of two colliding forces: a brutal global memory chip shortage and an increasingly hostile US posture toward Chinese tech companies.

The memory crunch is real

The global memory chip shortage, driven largely by insatiable demand from the AI sector, has been squeezing hardware makers for months. Apple has already felt the pain directly, raising prices on iPads and MacBooks in late June 2026 as memory and storage chip costs climbed.

Tim Cook himself has acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that “all options need to be considered” when it comes to addressing component shortages.

CXMT reported revenue growth of over 700% year-over-year in Q1 2026. The firm is also preparing for an IPO in Shanghai worth roughly $4 billion.

Apple has reportedly been in discussions with CXMT for DRAM supply and with Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) for NAND flash since early 2026. The goal is to diversify the vendor base and reduce exposure to the pricing power of incumbent suppliers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron.

Washington is not exactly rolling out the welcome mat

Micron has pushed for stricter limitations on US companies doing business with Chinese memory firms like CXMT, citing national security concerns that have found bipartisan support in Congress.

Back in 2022, Apple explored working with YMTC but abandoned the plan after US congressional opposition made the arrangement politically untenable.

On June 18, 2026, President Trump announced a partnership between Apple and Intel focused on US-based chip design and production. Apple finds itself simultaneously partnering with Intel on a domestic manufacturing initiative while lobbying the same administration to let it buy chips from a Chinese company that some lawmakers consider a national security risk.

What this means for investors

Apple’s iPad and MacBook price increases are a direct consequence of the memory shortage. CXMT’s 700% revenue growth and planned $4 billion IPO signal that Chinese manufacturers are building scale rapidly, and their ability to offer competitive pricing is exactly why companies like Apple want access.

If CXMT and YMTC are effectively blocked from supplying US tech giants, Micron and its Korean rivals maintain their oligopoly pricing. The memory shortage, compounded by geopolitical restrictions, creates sustained inflationary pressure across consumer electronics, as AI infrastructure buildouts are already consuming enormous quantities of high-bandwidth memory.

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