Apple Forced to Raise Prices Amid Global Chip Crisis, Lobbies Trump for China Access

Apple has announced price adjustments for its MacBook and iPad series, a move forced by a worsening global memory chip shortage. The company stated it has never before witnessed component price increases at the current rate, attributing the crisis to the massive surge in demand for chips driven by the artificial intelligence boom.

Amid this critical supply chain situation, the Trump administration’s trade restrictions are adding further pressure. Apple is reportedly lobbying the US government for permission to purchase memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese company that has been placed on the Pentagon’s blacklist. The firm is designated as a military company, meaning American businesses are barred from supplying it with goods, software, or technology without a special licence.

According to a Financial Times report citing a source, Apple has approached the Department of Commerce and other officials in Washington to seek an exemption. The lobbying effort highlights the dilemma facing US tech giants, caught between soaring component costs and national security restrictions on Chinese chipmakers.

As a result of the financial strain, Apple has raised prices on several products. The new Neo model has increased from US$599 to US$699 just months after its launch. The MacBook Air with 512GB storage has risen from US$1,099 to US$1,299, and the 1TB MacBook Pro now costs US$1,999, up from US$1,699. The iPad Air 128GB also saw a price hike to US$749 from US$599. Apple explained it could no longer shield customers from the rapid rise in component costs. Neither the White House, Apple, nor CXMT responded to requests for comment.