Apple and Micron clash over Chinese memory chips in US policy fight

Apple Micron Chinese memory chips U.S. government memory shortage

Apple has sought approval from the U.S. government to source DRAM and NAND memory chips from Chinese suppliers ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) for devices sold outside the United States. The plan is intended to alleviate the ongoing memory shortage that has driven up component prices and threatens to raise iPhone costs.

Micron Technology, the only large U.S. memory‑chip maker, has opposed the proposal. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and other Micron executives have met with Trump administration officials, warning that allowing Chinese memory chips could undermine the domestic semiconductor industry, comparing the risk to past declines in U.S. steel production. Micron argues that Chinese firms are linked to the Chinese military and appear on U.S. blacklists, making the move a security concern.

Apple’s chief Tim Cook also met with President Donald Trump and White House officials to argue that Chinese memory would help keep consumer prices down amid a shortage projected to last at least until 2027 due to AI‑driven demand.

Entities: Apple Inc. · Micron Technology · Sanjay Mehrotra · Tim Cook

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 5 SOURCES] Apple seeks permission to purchase memory chips from Chinese suppliers CXMT and YMTC for products sold outside the United States. (Apple)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The memory shortage is expected to persist through at least 2027 because of sustained AI demand. (Industry forecasts)
[● 2 SOURCES] The global memory shortage, driven by AI data‑center demand, has raised component prices and prompted Apple to consider cheaper Chinese chips. (Industry reports)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Trump and White House officials to discuss the Chinese memory chip plan. (Apple)
[● 4 SOURCES] Micron Technology is the only large U.S. memory‑chip manufacturer and opposes Apple’s plan. (Micron)
[● 2 SOURCES] Micron warns that allowing Chinese memory chips could destroy the U.S. semiconductor industry, likening the risk to past declines in U.S. steel production. (Micron)
[● 2 SOURCES] CXMT and YMTC are on U.S. blacklists as companies linked to the Chinese military. (U.S. government listings)
[● 3 SOURCES] Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra met with Trump administration officials to argue against Apple’s use of Chinese memory chips. (Micron)