Apple Lobbies White House to Buy Chips From Blacklisted China Firm
Apple is seeking U.S. government approval to source memory chips from blacklisted Chinese chipmaker CXMT in a bid to cut costs.
Apple is pushing the White House for permission to purchase memory chips from a blacklisted Chinese semiconductor company, according to a Financial Times report published Saturday. The tech giant is targeting CXMT, a Chinese memory chipmaker that has been placed on a U.S. trade restriction list, as it looks to drive down the cost of components used across its product lineup.
The move signals how aggressively Apple is working to manage supply-chain expenses amid broader pricing pressures. The company has reportedly been weighing alternative chip suppliers as it navigates both rising production costs and the competitive dynamics of the global smartphone and personal computer markets.
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Seeking a government waiver to do business with a blacklisted entity is a significant and uncommon step for a U.S. corporation. Such approvals are handled through the Commerce Department and require companies to demonstrate that the transaction would not pose a national security risk — a high bar given current tensions between Washington and Beijing over semiconductor technology.
The request comes at a sensitive moment. Apple shares have already come under pressure after price increases were introduced on iPads and Macs, and any perception that the company is seeking closer ties with Chinese firms restricted by the U.S. government could invite additional political scrutiny from both Congress and the administration.
Apple has not publicly commented on the reported lobbying effort, and the White House has not confirmed whether a formal waiver request is under review. Continue reading at Yahoo.
