Samsung and SK's Profits Under Scrutiny: "Apple Requests US Approval for Use of Chinese Memory Chips"

Apple is considering purchasing Chinese-made memory chips that are subject to U.S. government sanctions in order to address rising costs caused by a shortage in memory semiconductor supply.

According to major foreign media outlets such as the Financial Times (FT) on the 26th (local time), Apple is lobbying officials from the Donald Trump administration to seek approval for purchasing chips from Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) of China.

CXMT is a DRAM manufacturer that has been added to the U.S. Department of Defense's list of "Chinese military companies" due to alleged ties with the People's Liberation Army of China. Doing business with companies on this list carries the risk of legal sanctions and reputational damage.

Apple's lobbying efforts are aimed at diversifying its supply chain amid rising memory prices. Recently, Apple raised the prices of all its products, including MacBooks and iPads, citing increased component costs. Immediately after the price hike announcement, Apple's stock price fell by more than 6%, and its market capitalization dropped by $26.3 billion (approximately 40.37812 trillion won). This marks the second-largest decline in Apple's history.

Given the backlash from the U.S. Congress, the success of Apple's lobbying remains uncertain. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, pointed out that if Apple cooperates with a Chinese military company, it could result in the Chinese Communist Party gaining control over a key supply chain. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed opposition in 2022 when Apple considered adopting NAND flash chips from another Chinese-sanctioned company, YMTC.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.