technology
Apple Lobbies Trump Administration for Approval to Buy Chips From CXMT
Apple is seeking guarantees that ChangXin Memory Technologies will not face U.S. Entity List restrictions. The company raised prices on Macs, iPads and other devices this week amid memory shortages. CXMT remains on the Pentagon’s 1260H list after prior removal and restoration.
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Apple Inc. is lobbying the Trump administration for assurances that it can purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies Inc. without future licensing barriers. The company has approached officials at the Commerce Department and other agencies to prevent CXMT from being added to the U.S.
Entity List, according to six people familiar with the matter. Addition to the list would impose licensing restrictions on the supplier. CXMT appears on the Pentagon’s 1260H list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military.
The Pentagon restored CXMT and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. to the list in its newest version after earlier removals. The list carries limited immediate legal effects but signals potential future restrictions to investors.
This week Apple raised prices on all Macs, iPads, home devices and the Vision Pro headset to offset higher chip and storage costs. Last month the company warned that memory shortages would worsen through the year. A broader memory-chip shortage has forced companies across the tech industry to boost prices and reduce output.
Apple’s price increases contributed to a selloff in global tech stocks this week. Apple declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. CXMT is not currently barred as an Apple supplier.
