Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies...

Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese DRAM maker blacklisted by the US, according to the Financial Times and Bloomberg. The move underscores the severity of the AI-driven memory shortage, which has already forced Apple to raise MacBook and iPad prices (CNBC here and here), causing its stock to fall over 6% on June 26. CXMT is on the US Entity List, so any deal would require a license from the Commerce Department. Separately, Tom's Hardware reports Apple is skipping high-end M6 chips and accelerating an AI-focused M7 generation due to memory bandwidth constraints, further evidence of supply chain pressure. The memory crunch stems from hyperscaler demand for HBM and DDR5, diverting capacity away from consumer devices. If Apple secures CXMT supply, it could ease near-term pressure but also risk geopolitical blowback. However, the lobbying effort itself signals acute shortage and potential production constraints in coming quarters. For the semiconductor supply chain, this could mean tighter DRAM allocation, higher prices for consumer electronics, and increased scrutiny on memory exports from China. Spillover effects are likely for memory makers like Samsung and SK Hynix, as well as foundries like TSMC that supply Apple's main chips.