It has been revealed that Apple is in negotiations to purchase memory chips from two Chinese semiconductor companies currently on the U.S. Department of Defense blacklist.

Foreign media outlets, including Bloomberg, reported that Apple intends to source memory components for devices sold within China from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC).

Currently, Apple receives memory supplies from three companies: Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron. By adding these two Chinese firms, the company aims to secure memory from a total of five suppliers.

While negotiations are ongoing and nothing has been finalized, it is reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook has personally requested that officials in the Trump administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, mitigate the potential political fallout should the deal proceed.

Both CXMT and YMTC are currently listed on the U.S. Department of Defense's list of companies supporting the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Bloomberg noted that while Apple does not require official U.S. government approval to purchase chips from these two firms, the move risks facing strong backlash from security hardliners in the U.S. amid heightened tensions between the two nations in the high-tech sector.

Some officials within the Trump administration have reportedly already expressed internal opposition.

Analysts suggest that the reason behind Apple's sensitive move is the unprecedented memory supply shortage triggered by the AI boom.

As demand for DRAM and NAND flash used in building AI data centers has surged, major memory manufacturers have raised prices, prompting Apple to seek alternative suppliers.

In fact, when Apple raised prices across most of its product lines, including Macs and iPads, on June 26, it cited the sharp rise in memory costs as a reason for the price hikes.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News