Apple asks the Trump administration to allow the use of Chinese-made memory, but Micron objects.

Apple, facing soaring memory prices, has reportedly asked the Trump administration to allow it to do business with blacklisted Chinese companies, but Micron, a major American semiconductor company, is reportedly pushing back against this.

Exclusive | Apple Pushes Trump to Allow Chinese Memory Chips Amid Micron Opposition - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/tech/trump-apple-micron-china-chips-784bbd3d

Apple and Micron clash before Trump over Chinese memory chips - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/24/report-apple-and-micron-clash-before-trump-over-chinese-memory-chips/

In June 2026, Apple raised prices on products such as Macs and iPads due to soaring memory and storage costs. Shortly before this price increase, Apple CEO Tim Cook suggested in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that the United States should reconsider its decision to restrict access to certain Chinese suppliers.

Apple raises prices across Macs, iPads, and other products; MacBook Air goes up ¥40,000, but iPhones and Apple Watches remain at their original prices - GIGAZINE

Subsequently, it was reported that Apple was attempting to address the global memory supply shortage by asking the Trump administration to do business with CXMT, a Chinese company listed on the 'Chinese military enterprises list.'

Apple is seeking permission from the Trump administration to purchase memory from CXMT, a Chinese company blacklisted by the US government, to cope with soaring memory prices - GIGAZINE

In addition, it has been reported that Apple is also seeking to source memory from YMTC, and that Apple is already testing CXMT's DRAM.

Apple is reportedly testing memory chips from Chinese semiconductor manufacturer CXMT, possibly lobbying the US government for approval - GIGAZINE

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook has proposed to the Trump administration a plan to use CXMT and YMTC memory chips in Apple products sold outside the United States. Micron, the only major memory chip manufacturer in the U.S., has reportedly opposed this plan. Micron has reportedly warned the Trump administration that if Chinese companies such as CXMT are allowed to sell their products to American tech companies regardless of the sales region, it could collapse the American semiconductor industry in the same way that China has devastated America's steel and manufacturing industries.

In addition, Micron claimed that it could help alleviate the supply shortage by accelerating the construction of domestic factories and increasing investment from the United States. A Micron executive also mentioned in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that 'several of Micron's customers were very aggressive on price' during the market downturn in 2023. Furthermore, he claimed that extremely low prices hindered investment in increasing production capacity, creating the foundation for the memory supply shortage at the time of writing.

While Apple is focusing on memory chips from Chinese memory manufacturers, the company has invested heavily in American manufacturing over the past two years. In August 2025, it announced a $600 billion investment in the United States. Apple has also reached an agreement with Intel to jointly manufacture chips and has signed a $30 billion semiconductor supply contract with Broadcom, demonstrating its continued aggressive investment strategy. However, 9to5Mac described these investments as 'Apple's efforts to build a good relationship with the Trump administration.'