Lutnick Pressures Apple to Avoid Chinese Memory Chips in $600 Billion US Manufacturing Push
Updated
Updated · Sammy Fans · Aug 13
Lutnick Pressures Apple to Avoid Chinese Memory Chips in $600 Billion US Manufacturing Push
3 articles · Updated · Sammy Fans · Aug 13
Summary
Howard Lutnick told Apple directly to find alternatives to Chinese memory suppliers, pushing back on its reported interest in buying chips from CXMT and YMTC.
Apple has been exploring new memory sources to ease a global chip shortage, and COO Sabih Khan has said memory parts need less customization than many other components.
YMTC is on the US Commerce Department’s Entity List, while YMTC and CXMT have also been flagged by the Pentagon over alleged military ties, making any deal politically fraught.
Lutnick delivered the message after visiting Apple’s Houston manufacturing site, where the company’s broader $600 billion US investment push is seen as aligning with Washington’s industrial agenda.
Bipartisan senators have already urged Apple to avoid the two Chinese firms, leaving any near-term sourcing agreement increasingly unlikely.