Apple is seeking US government permission to buy RAM chips from CXMT, a Chinese memory supplier blacklisted by the Pentagon over alleged ties to the People's Liberation Army. According to the Financial Times, the move is aimed at easing supply-chain pressure as soaring memory and storage prices force Apple to raise prices across nearly all of its products.
Why Apple wants to buy RAM from CXMT
The timing is driven by economics. Memory and storage prices have climbed sharply, and Apple raised prices on nearly all of its products this week as a result. Securing an additional RAM source would give the company more leverage over a strained supply chain at a moment when every major device maker is competing for the same constrained pool of chips.
CXMT represents extra capacity at a useful price, which is exactly why Apple is willing to navigate the political complications rather than simply absorb higher costs from approved suppliers. For a company that ships hundreds of millions of memory-hungry devices a year, even a modest per-unit saving on RAM scales into real money. For more on how the RAM crunch is hitting hardware and pricing, see our business coverage.
Legal, but risky
Apple is not legally barred from buying chips from CXMT, but sourcing from a company linked to the Chinese military would carry serious reputational risk. CXMT could also still become a target of export controls: it appeared on a list of proposed additions to the Commerce Department's "Entity List," but that designation was held off while the White House negotiated trade terms with China.
That leaves Apple exposed to a moving target. A supplier that is permissible today could be restricted tomorrow, turning a short-term sourcing win into a long-term liability if the geopolitical winds shift. The latest news on chips, components, and policy runs in our tech news section.
A political balancing act
It is unclear whether the administration would approve the request. CEO Tim Cook has spent considerable effort building ties with the Trump administration, but granting permission would likely draw significant blowback in Washington.
"Apple choosing to partner with a Chinese military company would be a grave mistake... Helping the [Chinese Communist Party] succeed in its plans to dominate critical supply chains will make our country's tech industry and economy more dependent on China at a time when we must build secure tech supply chains with our allies," said John Moolenaar, Republican chair of the House China committee, speaking to the Financial Times.
That kind of pushback illustrates how a routine procurement decision has become entangled with national-security politics, leaving regulators to weigh cost relief for a major US firm against the optics of approving a deal with a flagged supplier.
What it means for the chip supply crunch
The episode underscores how the global memory shortage is colliding with security policy. Memory pricing is reshaping the broader tech market, and Apple is far from the only manufacturer scrambling for supply, but its scale and visibility make it a bellwether. For now, the decision rests with regulators, and the outcome will signal how far Washington is willing to let US tech giants lean on Chinese suppliers during a supply crunch.
Frequently asked questions
What is CXMT and why is it blacklisted?
CXMT is a Chinese memory chip maker that the Pentagon has blacklisted over alleged ties to the People's Liberation Army. It was also proposed for the Commerce Department's Entity List, though that designation was paused during trade negotiations.
Is it legal for Apple to buy from CXMT?
Yes, Apple is not currently barred from buying CXMT chips, but it is seeking government permission to manage the political and reputational risk, and CXMT could still face future export controls.
Why does Apple need more RAM suppliers now?
Memory and storage prices have surged, prompting Apple to raise prices on nearly all of its products. An extra RAM source would ease pressure on a tight global supply chain.
