Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to buy DRAM chips from CXMT, a Chinese memory maker on the Pentagon’s 1260H list, the Financial Times reported, raising new questions about how far the global memory squeeze has reached into consumer hardware pricing and U.S.-China tech policy.

The FT, citing six people familiar with the matter, reported that Apple first approached the Commerce Department more than a month ago and has since pressed officials and Washington contacts for assurance that a deal with ChangXin Memory Technologies would not be disrupted later by U.S. trade restrictions.

The request is not described as an attempt to evade an existing ban. Apple is not currently barred from buying from CXMT, according to the reporting. The risk is that CXMT could later be added to the Entity List, which would impose licensing rules and could limit the Chinese company’s access to U.S. technology.

The timing is central to the story. Apple had just raised prices on parts of its Mac and iPad lineup, with reported increases of roughly 17% to 25%, after citing higher memory and storage costs. Counterpoint data cited in the source material says memory prices have risen roughly fourfold over the past three quarters, a surge tied in part to AI data-center demand pulling supply toward servers and accelerators.

Apple’s Supply Shield Is Cracking

Apple is one of the world’s strongest hardware buyers, with large cash reserves, long supplier relationships and the scale to lock in parts earlier than smaller rivals. If it is seeking a politically sensitive fourth source for commodity DRAM, the pressure is no longer limited to weaker manufacturers or smaller PC brands.

For readers, the direct effect is price. Memory sits inside phones, tablets, laptops, servers and home devices. When DRAM and storage costs rise fast, manufacturers can absorb some of the hit, cut margins, delay products or pass more cost to buyers. Apple’s reported move suggests the company sees supplier diversification as a way to contain that pressure.

The case also links consumer tech prices to national-security policy. CXMT is not accused in this reporting of wrongdoing beyond the U.S. designation, but the Pentagon’s 1260H list marks companies the U.S. says have alleged links to China’s military. A U.S. approval for Apple could draw criticism from lawmakers who want American companies to reduce reliance on Chinese chip suppliers.

From YMTC Warning to CXMT Request

Apple has faced similar pressure before. In 2022, lawmakers warned the company against using chips from YMTC, another Chinese memory maker later placed under tighter U.S. trade restrictions. Apple backed away from that plan after the political backlash, according to earlier reporting cited in the source material.

CXMT is a different supplier and a different product case. The company makes commodity DRAM, including DDR5 and LPDDR products used in PCs, servers and mobile devices. It is not described in the source material as a producer of high-bandwidth memory, the stacked, high-margin memory used in many AI accelerators.

That distinction matters because Apple’s reported interest is less about the AI-memory frontier and more about standard memory availability. Apple already buys memory from Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix. Adding CXMT would give it another source in a market where the biggest suppliers are serving strong demand from data-center customers.

Approval, Volume and Risk Remain Open

The White House decision has not been announced. The FT reported that Apple declined to comment, and the administration’s final position remains unknown as of June 29, 2026.

It is also unclear whether CXMT could supply Apple at the volume and quality Apple would need across major product lines. The source material describes CXMT as capable in commodity DRAM, but does not confirm whether Apple has completed qualification, signed supply terms or chosen which products would use the chips.

The political risk is still developing. CXMT’s presence on the 1260H list does not block private purchases by itself, but any move by Commerce to place the company on the Entity List would change the risk profile. Apple’s reputational exposure also depends on whether U.S. officials publicly approve, quietly tolerate or reject the plan.

Washington’s Decision Sets the Path

The next marker is whether the Trump administration gives Apple the assurance it is seeking, refuses it or leaves the company without a clear answer. A formal Entity List action against CXMT would make a supply deal much harder.

Investors and customers will also watch Apple’s next margin guidance and product pricing. If memory prices stay high, pressure could spread beyond Macs and iPads into future devices. If Apple secures another DRAM source, the effect may be most visible in margins first, not lower retail prices.

Key Questions

Is Apple legally banned from buying CXMT memory chips?

No, based on the FT reporting cited here. CXMT is on the Pentagon’s 1260H list, but that designation does not by itself ban Apple from buying chips. The larger concern is whether Commerce could later add CXMT to the Entity List.

Why does Apple want CXMT as a supplier?

Apple is seeking relief from rising DRAM and storage costs. Adding CXMT would give Apple a potential fourth memory supplier alongside Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix.

Would CXMT chips be used in iPhones?

That is not confirmed. The source material focuses on memory costs and recent Mac and iPad price pressure. It does not confirm which Apple products would use CXMT chips if a deal moved forward.

Why is CXMT politically sensitive?

The Pentagon has placed CXMT on its 1260H list for companies with alleged links to China’s military. Lawmakers critical of the move argue that buying from CXMT could deepen U.S. dependence on Chinese technology supply chains.

What happens if Washington says no?

Apple would likely remain reliant on its existing memory suppliers and could face continued cost pressure if DRAM prices stay elevated. The company could absorb costs, raise prices further or adjust product configurations.

Source: Thorsten Meyer AI