Micron Technology is lobbying against Apple’s efforts to source memory chips from Chinese suppliers ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC). Apple seeks these partnerships to reduce manufacturing costs.
Micron claims the move would undermine the U.S. technology manufacturing sector. The company draws parallels between this shift and the historical decline of the U.S. steel industry.
CXMT recently completed a successful debut on the Shanghai stock exchange. The listing provides significant capital for CXMT to expand production of conventional DRAM, a core market for Micron.
The Pentagon has restored both CXMT and YMTC to a list signaling potential future trade restrictions. This designation highlights escalating geopolitical tensions within the semiconductor industry.