U.S. senators have sent an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook urging the company to stop sourcing memory chips from Chinese suppliers [1].
The demand comes as a global memory-chip shortage drives up DRAM prices, potentially forcing Apple to increase the cost of MacBooks and iPads [1]. Lawmakers said they are concerned that relying on Chinese firms during this supply crisis creates strategic vulnerabilities.
The letter, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), specifically targets two Chinese companies: CXMT and YMTC [1]. The senators said Apple should abandon any effort to procure chips from these entities in every country where the company sells its products [1].
This bipartisan push highlights the growing tension between U.S. national security interests and the complex global supply chains of major tech firms. By targeting these specific suppliers, the senators are attempting to decouple critical hardware components from Chinese influence, even if it impacts Apple's procurement costs during the current shortage [1].
Apple has been given a deadline of Aug. 21 [1] to respond to the request and clarify its position on these suppliers. The timing is critical as the industry continues to struggle with the volatility of the DRAM market [1].
While Apple has not yet issued a public response, the pressure from both sides of the aisle indicates a coordinated effort to restrict the use of Chinese-made memory in U.S.-designed electronics [1].
“U.S. senators have sent an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook urging the company to stop sourcing memory chips from Chinese suppliers”
This move signals an escalation in the U.S. government's strategy to secure the semiconductor supply chain. By pressuring Apple—one of the world's most powerful buyers of memory—to boycott CXMT and YMTC, lawmakers are attempting to use market leverage to isolate Chinese chipmakers. If Apple complies, it may face higher production costs or supply delays, but it would align with a broader U.S. policy of reducing technological dependency on China.
