Apple wants permission to buy memory from a blacklisted Chinese supplier

苹果公司寻求许可，拟从被列入黑名单的中国供应商处采购内存

Apple is looking to alleviate some of the pressure on its supply chain by seeking an exception from the Trump administration to buy RAM chips from CXMT, a company blacklisted by the Pentagon over ties to the People’s Liberation Army, according to the Financial Times. The skyrocketing prices of RAM and storage have driven Apple to raise prices on almost all of its products this week, so it makes sense that it would seek alternative sources.

据《金融时报》报道，苹果公司正寻求获得特朗普政府的豁免，以便从长鑫存储（CXMT）采购内存芯片，以此缓解其供应链的部分压力。长鑫存储因与中国人民解放军存在关联，已被五角大楼列入黑名单。由于内存和存储价格的飙升，苹果本周不得不上调了几乎所有产品的售价，因此寻求替代供应商在情理之中。

Legally, Apple isn’t barred from buying chips from CXMT, but doing business with a company tied to the Chinese military would carry serious reputational risks. It’s possible that CXMT could still find itself the target of export controls for undermining US security. The company was on a list of proposed additions to the so-called “Entity List” by the Commerce Department, but held off because the White House was in the middle of trade negotiations with China.

从法律层面看，苹果并未被禁止从长鑫存储购买芯片，但与一家与中国军方有关联的公司开展业务将带来严重的声誉风险。长鑫存储仍有可能因损害美国安全而成为出口管制的打击目标。此前，美国商务部曾将其列入拟议的“实体清单”增补名单，但因当时白宫正处于与中国的贸易谈判期间而暂缓执行。

It’s unclear if the administration would give its blessing to Apple. Tim Cook has spent significant time trying to build bridges with the Trump administration, presenting the president with gaudy statues and attending a screening of the Melania movie, directed by accused rapist Brett Ratner. But if the White House granted Apple permission, such a decision would likely face significant blowback. John Moolenaar, Republican chair of the House China committee, told the Financial Times that:

目前尚不清楚特朗普政府是否会批准苹果的请求。蒂姆·库克（Tim Cook）花费了大量时间试图与特朗普政府建立联系，包括向总统赠送华丽的雕像，以及出席由被控强奸的布莱特·拉特纳（Brett Ratner）执导的梅拉尼娅纪录片放映会。但如果白宫批准苹果的请求，这一决定很可能会面临巨大的舆论反弹。众议院中国问题特别委员会共和党主席约翰·穆勒纳尔（John Moolenaar）对《金融时报》表示：

“Apple choosing to partner with a Chinese military company would be a grave mistake… Helping the [Chinese Communist Party] succeed in its plans to dominate critical supply chains will make our country’s tech industry and economy more dependent on China at a time when we must build secure tech supply chains with our allies,”

“苹果选择与一家中国军工企业合作将是一个严重的错误……在我们需要与盟友共同构建安全科技供应链的关键时刻，帮助中国共产党实现其主导关键供应链的计划，将使我国的科技产业和经济更加依赖中国。”