FT Reports That Apple Is Lobbying to Buy Memory Chips From Blacklisted Chinese Company CXMT

Demetri Sevastopulo and Michael Acton, reporting for the Financial Times (paywalled, alas):

Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to buy memory chips from CXMT, a Chinese company that the Pentagon has put on a blacklist because of alleged connections to the People’s Liberation Army, according to six people familiar with the matter. [...]

Apple is not barred from buying chips from CXMT, or YMTC, another Chinese memory chipmaker. But the Pentagon has put both companies on its Chinese Military Company blacklist. The so-called 1260H list contains dozens of Chinese groups with alleged ties to the PLA that undermine US national security. [...]

Congress would probably object strongly if the administration blessed Apple purchases from CXMT, which is the Chinese national champion. “Apple choosing to partner with a Chinese military company would be a grave mistake,” John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House China committee, told the FT. “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,” Moolenaar said. [...]

One former official warned the US risked losing another industry by letting Apple buy memory from a group that receives Chinese subsidies.

“Trump can show the courage to keep American memory alive for our security and our competitiveness or pour it down the drain so [Apple chief executive] Tim Cook can squeeze out a few more points of margin.”

In Apple’s announcement of the company’s imminent leadership transition, they said that in his new role as executive chairman, “Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.” It occurs to me, more and more, that Cook might be no less busy than he was as CEO.

★ Saturday, 27 June 2026