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Chuck Schumer, Other Senators Reportedly Warn Apple CEO Tim Cook Against Buying Chinese Memory Chips: 'Wo
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) highlighted in the letter that both CXMT and YMTC are included on the Pentagon’s recently updated list of Chinese companies allegedly supporting Beijing’s military, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
Notably, CXMT is included on the Pentagon’s 1260H list.
"This short-sighted move would be a mistake, and it would ensure the world’s most valuable consumer-electronics company grows dependent on critical supplies from a firm the United States government has formally designated as a Chinese military company," the senators wrote, as per the report.
Other lawmakers who signed the letter included Democrats Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), as well as Republicans Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
Senators also attempted to dismiss the idea that buying Chinese memory would help Apple decrease prices, citing analysis that CXMT’s pricing is at times more than its competitors’. Even with lower prices, the iPhone maker would pose a national security risk by including Chinese products in its devices, the lawmakers said.
Apple did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Apple’s Decision to Add CXMT Chips Faces Scrutiny
As of late 2025, CXMT holds a 7.67% share of the global DRAM market, though analysts expect its reach to expand to 10% by 2026.
However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that picking CXMT would not significantly lower Apple’s memory costs, as the Chinese chipmaker’s IPO filing indicated that its production capacity was well below domestic demand.