[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Bipartisan U.S. senators have publicly pressed Apple to pledge that it will not use chips from Chinese memory chipmakers CXMT and YMTC in its products. They cited concerns that adopting Chinese-made memory could pose a threat to the U.S. semiconductor industry and national security.

On July 30 (local time), IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that U.S. senators urged Apple to state by Aug. 21 that it will not use memory chips from CXMT and YMTC.

The demand comes amid reports that Apple has been considering expanding its China supply chain to respond to a memory supply shortage. Apple is also reported to have sought de facto backing from the U.S. administration for a plan to procure memory chips from CXMT and YMTC. The matter does not legally require government approval, but analysts say pressing ahead without administration support could increase the political burden.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said the company is reviewing its overall supply chain in connection with the possibility of price increases. Reports then followed that Apple is testing CXMT DRAM and is also holding talks with YMTC over memory supplies.

U.S. congressional scrutiny is not new. In 2022, Apple pursued a plan to put YMTC NAND flash in some iPhones sold in China, but withdrew it amid congressional backlash and tougher export controls on China.

At the time, Senator Marco Rubio criticised Apple, saying it was "playing with fire". Other lawmakers also strongly opposed the move on national security grounds.

This time, the criticism has intensified. Senators called Apple’s idea "short-sighted" and said the world’s largest consumer electronics company could end up relying for key components on firms the U.S. government has designated as Chinese military-linked companies.

They also warned that if Apple brings Chinese memory makers into its supply chain, other global companies are likely to follow. They said that could weaken investment in and the production base of the U.S. memory industry. U.S. memory maker Micron is also reported to have used the same logic in persuading the administration not to accept Apple’s request.

Lawmakers said that even if Apple applies Chinese-made memory only to products sold in China at first, it would be difficult for that scope to remain confined to the China market for a long time.

They said parts that have passed Apple’s supply-chain certification could later be applied more broadly to global products. Apple is also reported to have discussed with the administration the possibility of using memory from CXMT and YMTC in products sold outside China.

Senators also asked what technical information Apple shared with CXMT during the parts certification process. They also raised that if U.S.-controlled technology was transferred to China’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities, a separate permit from the U.S. Commerce Department could be required.

Apple has not yet issued an official position on the inquiry. The industry sees the dispute as expanding beyond a simple parts procurement issue into a matter that intertwines U.S. efforts to protect the semiconductor supply chain, technology restrictions on China and national security. Attention is focused on what position Apple will take before the Aug. 21 deadline and whether it will maintain plans to bring Chinese memory makers into its supply chain.