Apple is weighing a shift to Chinese RAM suppliers as a global memory shortage drives component costs higher. The firm is in talks with ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies, both listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as companies that support Beijing’s military. Apple hopes the deal will blunt price pressure on Macs, iPads, iPhones for flagship releases and to maintain margins.

Both firms sit on a blacklist that recently draws congressional attention. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook has appealed to the Trump administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to smooth any clearance process. Apple previously tried to source chips from YMTC for iPhone models sold in China, prompting Senate Intelligence Committee chair Marco Rubio to warn the company was “playing with fire.”

If Apple secures the RAM, it could dampen the cost surge that forced recent price hikes across its product line. However, dealing with blacklisted vendors risks regulatory fallout and could invite further scrutiny from lawmakers. The company appears ready to seek formal approval to avoid blowback, signaling a pragmatic but controversial approach to supply‑chain resilience for future device generations.