Apple in talks with two Chinese RAM suppliers on U.S. blacklist amid component shortage

Apple is negotiating with two Chinese semiconductor firms, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), to source memory chips for devices sold in China. Both companies are listed on a Pentagon blacklist, requiring clearance from the United States government before Apple can add them as suppliers. The move is aimed at mitigating the impact of a worldwide memory shortage that has forced Apple to raise prices on Macs, iPads and other products that rely on storage and memory components. Apple says the higher cost of these parts has been passed on to customers to protect its margins. While price hikes were applied to Macs and iPads in June, iPhone prices have not yet increased, though new models expected in September are projected to be priced higher than current versions.