White House debates Apple Chinese chip request vs Micron

A high-stakes lobbying battle between Apple and Micron Technology over the use of Chinese memory chips has reached the White House, forcing the Trump administration to weigh competing economic and national security priorities. The dispute centers on Apple's request for authorization to purchase memory semiconductors from two Chinese manufacturers, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), for use in products sold outside the United States.

Apple, led by CEO Tim Cook, has engaged in multiple meetings with top administration officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to secure approval. The company argues that severe global memory chip shortages, which have driven prices up fourfold over the past year, necessitate alternative supply sources to manage costs for consumers. Apple has reportedly accused its sole major domestic competitor, Micron, of price gouging, pointing to Micron's gross profit margins exceeding 80 percent as evidence. Apple also contends that Micron is prioritizing production for artificial intelligence customers over consumer electronics manufacturers, and is not reinvesting fast...