Bloomberg reports that a bipartisan group of US senators, led by Jim Banks and Chuck Schumer, urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to commit by August 21 to not using memory chips from Chinese suppliers CXMT and YMTC. Both firms are on a Pentagon list of Chinese military companies.

Apple has reportedly sought the Trump administration's blessing to source components from these suppliers amid a memory shortage. While not legally required, proceeding without support could bring political ramifications. Tim Cook previously stated "everything needs to be on the table" regarding supply chain options. The Financial Times reported Apple was testing CXMT's DRAM chips and negotiating with YMTC.

Lawmakers called Apple's plan "short-sighted," warning it would make the world's most valuable consumer-electronics company dependent on a designated Chinese military firm. They argued any restriction to China-only products would likely not hold, as extending worldwide is "a single procurement decision away." Senators also sought details on any technical information shared with CXMT during qualification, which may require a Commerce Department license.

This isn't Apple's first attempt; in 2022, plans to use YMTC chips in iPhones sold in China were shelved after scrutiny from lawmakers like Marco Rubio, who accused Apple of "playing with fire." Micron has also lobbied against the move, arguing it undermines domestic memory production and planned investments in states including Indiana, Idaho, New York, and Virginia.