Senators from across the aisle have reportedly sent a letter to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, urging the company to refrain from using memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) in its devices, even if the products are meant solely for the Chinese market.

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

Reports last month suggested that Apple began testing CXMT’s DRAM chips for devices sold in China, while U.S. tech companies are lobbying Washington to allow broader use of their products as they view CXMT as a potential fourth global DRAM supplier amid tight chip supply. In June, Apple hiked prices of most of its offerings like Macs, iPads, home devices and the Vision Pro, citing a memory chip shortage.

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.

Apple testing Chinese memory chips also poses a threat to the dominance of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF), SK Hynix ADR Inc. (NASDAQ:SKHY), and Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU).

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.

Image via Shutterstock