Developing Story
Apple – Seeking Approval to Buy Memory Chips from Blacklisted Chinese Company (2026)
Apple is reportedly asking the Trump administration to approve purchases from a blacklisted Chinese memory chip company to counter rising semiconductor costs. The request highlights the tension between US export control enforcement and the practical realities of global technology supply chains.
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## Apple – Seeking Approval to Buy Memory Chips from Blacklisted Chinese Company (2026)
### Overview
Apple is reportedly seeking Trump administration approval to purchase memory chips from a blacklisted Chinese company, motivated by the desire to ease pressure from rising semiconductor prices, according to the Financial Times (June 27, 2026).
### Background
The Chinese company in question has not been named in available reporting. US export control blacklists — primarily the Commerce Department's Entity List — restrict US companies from transacting with listed entities without a license.
### Strategic Context
- **Semiconductor pricing pressure**: Apple's supply chain faces elevated input costs from the broader US-China chip trade restriction environment and Iran war-related supply disruptions.
- **License request mechanism**: US companies can apply to BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) for specific licenses to transact with blacklisted entities under certain conditions.
- **Precedent risk**: Granting Apple a license could invite similar requests from other major tech companies and create political controversy around enforcement consistency.
### Geopolitical Dimensions
The request sits at the intersection of the hardware sovereignty narrative, US-China chip trade restrictions, and corporate lobbying of the Trump administration. It reflects the practical difficulty of maintaining absolute supply chain decoupling.
### Legal Considerations
- BIS license applications involve national security review; approval is not guaranteed.
- Any unauthorized transactions would expose Apple to severe civil and criminal penalties under EAR.
- Congressional reaction, particularly from China hawks, could complicate approval.
### Watch
- BIS license determination.
- Identity of the Chinese supplier.
- Congressional or executive branch reaction.