Senator Chuck Schumer and several colleagues have urged Apple to commit to not purchasing memory chips from Chinese companies ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC). These companies are suspected of having ties to the People's Liberation Army.

Apple has been in discussions with CXMT and YMTC for a chip deal, reportedly to address memory shortages impacting Mac and iPad prices. While Apple does not require U.S. approval for CXMT chips, YMTC is on the Commerce Department's Entity List, necessitating an export license. Apple has been lobbying the Trump administration to facilitate these purchases and prevent CXMT's inclusion on the Entity List.

Schumer voiced concerns that Apple's plan would harm the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and set a dangerous precedent. He highlighted that U.S. investment is boosting domestic chip production, and American companies should support it. Despite Apple's stated intention to use these chips only in the Chinese market, Schumer believes this limitation is unreliable and that supplying these companies would provide them significant revenue and reputational benefits. Apple is expected to respond to the senators' letter by August 21, 2026.