US Secretary of Commerce Lutnick against Apple's chip purchases in China

US President Donald Trump's government doesn't want Apple to buy memory chips from China. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said this in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

“The government is not for it,” said Lutnick after a tour of a new Apple factory in Houston. Company boss Tim Cook also took part in the tour. There must be “other solutions to the memory problem, but it is not good for American companies to use Chinese memory.” When asked whether he had passed this message on to Apple, Lutnick replied: "Clear and clear."

Trouble for Apple

The comments highlight another conflict between the Trump administration and Apple. But it's unclear whether Apple will actually comply with the demand so as not to incur Trump's wrath. Because the US company is in a quandary: memory chips are currently rare, and as a result prices are exploding. That's why Apple and other manufacturers of consumer electronics are sometimes significantly increasing the prices of their products. In order to satisfy its own needs, Apple has to examine new sources of supply - and is looking to China.

The general lack of chips has primarily to do with the AI ​​boom: many new and very large data centers are being set up to operate AI applications, which also require chips. That's why they are now missing elsewhere.

According to insiders, Apple is already testing memory chips from Chinese companies CXMT and Yangtze Memory Technologies, reports the Wall Street Journal. This could be in preparation for using the chips in Apple devices sold in China, the US paper speculates. The group has not yet confirmed this information.

U.S. government rules require American companies to obtain a license before sharing product information with Chinese chipmakers. However, they need the information in order to produce chips tailored to the needs of the company. It's different with standard components that Apple could buy now.

Apple AI for China report

The Trump administration had put pressure on US tech companies to relocate their supply chains back to the US by threatening higher tariffs. In return, companies like Apple have promised large domestic investments. However, many announcements primarily contained marketing: companies often included long-planned projects and expenses.