Rumor
Apple CEO reportedly lobbied to remove CXMT and YMTC from Pentagon blacklist
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly lobbied for the removal of Chinese memory chipmakers CXMT and YMTC from the United States Pentagon's restricted list.
Context
Apple is reportedly lobbying for the permanent removal of Chinese memory leaders CXMT and YMTC from the Pentagon’s Section 1260H restricted list following a series of conflicting regulatory updates in February 2026. While the Department of Defense briefly retracted a revised list omitting these firms, the shift signals a potential reopening for Apple to source YMTC’s 128-layer NAND chips, which offer a 20% cost advantage over current suppliers. This delisting would remove a primary barrier to integrating high-volume, lower-cost Chinese components into the global hardware lineup.
This shift provides a vital margin lever as Apple faces memory contract spikes of nearly 2x from existing vendors in early 2026. Securing access to YMTC’s expanding production and CXMT’s new HBM3 lines allows Apple to diversify its supply chain and mitigate the effects of a persistent global chip crunch. The timing, occurring just ahead of a planned April 2026 diplomatic summit, indicates a strategic pivot to stabilize the AI and smartphone supply chain despite ongoing technology tensions.
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