Cheap Chinese chips could offer way out of RAM price crisis, Apple suggests
The RAM price crisis is pushing hardware manufacturers to pursue deals with Chinese companies, against the wishes of the US government. Apple is one of those reportedly exploring such deals. “Apple is in negotiations to purchase chips from Chinese semiconductor makers ChangXin Memory Technologies Inc. (CMTI) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) to help reduce the impact of a global memory shortage,” Bloomberg reported. “The companies are on a Pentagon blacklist of Chinese entities believed to support Beijing’s military, and Apple’s effort to buy chips from them has included appeals to Trump administration officials to help soften the political fallout,” it said. Rumors surrounding Apple talking with CMTI and YMTC have been going on for months, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pointing to Apple CEO Tim Cook being “one of the few tech leaders who can still navigate both Washington and Beijing, so this is better handled before he steps down as CEO.” Beyond the potential political ramificat