Apple seeks to buy memory chips from blacklisted Chinese company

Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for clearance to buy memory chips from CXMT, a Chinese company that the Pentagon has put on a blacklist because of alleged connections to the People’s Liberation Army, according to six people familiar with the matter. The iPhone maker has waged a lobbying campaign to get the blessing from the White House to help ease the financial pressure on the company from the rise in memory chip prices. One person said Apple approached the commerce department more than a month ago, but the tech company has been targeting other officials across the administration and allies in Washington.