# Apple faces U.S. opposition over Chinese memory sourcing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/apple-chinese-memory-chip-negotiations > Updated: 2026-08-23T23:15:00.000Z. Sources: 213. Developments: 9. Apple’s efforts to diversify its memory supply chain by adding China’s CXMT and YMTC as suppliers face intensifying political and corporate opposition. While Apple is exploring these options to mitigate a global memory chip shortage driven by surging AI data center demand, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has stated the Trump administration is “not in favor” of the move, urging American companies to seek alternative solutions. Adding to the tension, U.S. Senators have issued an open letter urging Apple to avoid components from CXMT and YMTC, fearing that reliance on Chinese memory chips could create dependencies and allow state-subsidized firms to displace Western manufacturers. U.S.-based Micron Technology has also lobbied the government to block Apple’s plans, arguing it would undermine domestic semiconductor production. Despite this pressure, Chinese manufacturers continue to expand their global footprint. YMTC has captured a 14% global market share in the NAND flash market as of the second quarter of 2026, ranking third behind Samsung and SK Hynix, with an ambition to become the world’s largest NAND producer by the end of 2027. CXMT is also scaling operations, with its utilization rate projected to reach 95.73% in 2025, despite facing lower production yields and U.S. export restrictions. Recent reports indicate that while CXMT and YMTC do not currently intend to supply Apple on a large scale, they are actively pursuing supplier certification from the tech giant. Such a move would serve as a significant quality endorsement to help them secure other international clients amidst rising price volatility in the global memory market. ## Claims - CXMT’s DRAM modules now sell at prices comparable to Samsung’s. (disputed by 3 sources) - CXMT prices a 64 GB DDR5 server RDIMM at over $1,240 per module, higher than Samsung's comparable product. (disputed by 3 sources) - CXMT shares surged more than 500 % on the first day of trading, briefly making it the most valuable listed Chinese company. (disputed by 2 sources) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the Trump administration opposes Apple purchasing memory chips from Chinese manufacturers. (corroborated by 21 sources) - Apple has been testing DRAM from CXMT and exploring potential deals with YMTC. (corroborated by 17 sources) - Apple COO Sabih Khan noted that memory components require little customization compared to other iPhone parts. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Apple is evaluating all options to address the global memory chip supply shortage. (corroborated by 10 sources) - YMTC is currently on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Entity List. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Pentagon has designated CXMT and YMTC as Chinese military companies. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Surging demand for memory chips driven by AI data center construction has caused a global supply shortage and rising prices. (corroborated by 8 sources) - YMTC held a 14% share of the global NAND flash market in the second quarter of 2026. (corroborated by 7 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-23: YMTC and CXMT expand global memory market presence Chinese memory makers YMTC and CXMT are expanding capacity and market share amid a global chip shortage, with YMTC aiming for NAND leadership by 2027 and both seeking international quality certification. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cxmt-faces-dram-capacity-limits-amid-rising-prices-and-yield-issues ### 2026-08-17: Apple faces U.S. opposition over Chinese RAM chip plans The U.S. government and Senate are opposing Apple's potential plans to source RAM chips from Chinese manufacturers CXMT and YMTC to mitigate global memory shortages. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-faces-us-opposition-over-chinese-ram-chip-plans ### 2026-08-15: Apple faces U.S. opposition over Chinese memory chip sourcing The Trump administration is opposing Apple's plan to source memory chips from Chinese firms CXMT and YMTC to combat a global chip shortage driven by AI demand. 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-commerce-secretary-opposes-apple-sourcing-memory-chips-from-china ### 2026-08-05: Apple fails to add Chinese CXMT as DRAM supplier for iPhones Apple could not add CXMT as a DRAM supplier after price talks failed; CXMT demands rates at least as high as Samsung and SK Hynix, cementing their dominance amid a global memory shortage. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-faces-eu-copypaste-demand-and-dram-supplier-setback ### 2026-08-02: China's CXMT to build second Beijing DRAM fab after record $8.6 bn IPO CXMT raised $8.6‑10 bn in a record IPO, saw shares surge >500 %, and plans a second Beijing DRAM fab that could double capacity, amid valuation splits ($160 bn‑$1.1 tn) and U.S. export restrictions. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-cxmt-dram-chipmaker-ipo-raises-85-b-challenging-micron ### 2026-07-31: Apple eyes Chinese memory chips as US senators raise security concerns Apple is testing Chinese memory chips from CXMT and YMTC to diversify supply, while US senators warn the move could pose security risks. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-eyes-chinese-memory-chips-as-us-senators-raise-security-concerns ### 2026-07-27: Apple's Push for Chinese Memory Chips Sparks Micron Opposition and US Lobbying Apple is lobbying the Trump administration to buy Chinese memory chips for overseas devices; Micron opposes, citing U.S. industry risk, while CXMT and YMTC are designated as Chinese military firms. 131 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apples-chinese-memory-chip-plan-meets-micron-lobbying-opposition ### 2026-07-25: Apple faces Micron opposition over Chinese memory chip plan Apple seeks U.S. approval to use Chinese DRAM from CXMT and YMTC amid an AI‑driven memory shortage, while Micron opposes the plan, citing industry‑security risks and higher component costs. 33 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-and-micron-dispute-over-chinese-memory-chips ### 2026-07-01: Apple negotiates Chinese memory chip purchases amid US blacklist concerns Apple is negotiating to buy memory chips from Chinese firms CXMT and YMTC—both on a U.S. defense blacklist—to diversify its supply amid AI‑driven shortages, while lobbying the Trump administration to ease U.S.‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-negotiates-chinese-memory-chip-purchases-amid-us-blacklist-concerns --- Cite as: Apple faces U.S. opposition over Chinese memory sourcing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/apple-chinese-memory-chip-negotiations