The Trump administration has strongly urged Apple to stop purchasing memory chips from Chinese manufacturers. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reports that the ultimatum came at an extremely inopportune moment for the tech giant. The company is desperately seeking new suppliers amid a global component shortage driven by the artificial intelligence boom.
The White House intervention has created a new flashpoint between authorities and Apple’s management. Washington is continuing its sustained pressure on the corporation, demanding that production chains be returned to the United States. The administration has already secured partial wins. It previously lobbied for an agreement under which some chips for Apple will be produced by US‑based Intel, and the manufacture of protective glass for iPhone and Apple Watch will be localized domestically.
Attempts to make production fully US‑based, however, are running up against harsh logistics. Although Apple has expanded Mac Mini assembly capacity at a Texas plant, the lion’s share of its supply chain remains firmly tied to Asia. Cupertino’s main diversification target is not the United States but India, where iPhone assembly is being scaled up.
