U.S. Urges Apple Not to Buy Memory Chips from China
Listen to the story
Apple is reportedly testing memory chips made by a Chinese company called CXMT for use in its iPhones and MacBooks. This information comes from a report by the Wall Street Journal.
However, the U.S. government has urged Apple not to buy these chips. The government appears worried about American companies depending on Chinese technology for important products.
Memory chips are key components inside phones and computers. They store information that devices need to work properly. Most major phone and computer makers rely on a small number of chip suppliers around the world, and many of these suppliers are based in Asia.
CXMT is one of China's growing chip companies. In recent years, China has been trying to build its own strong chip industry instead of depending on foreign companies. This effort is part of a wider competition between the U.S. and China over technology.
The U.S. has already placed limits on some Chinese technology companies in the past, for reasons connected to national security and business competition. This new request about memory chips seems to fit that same pattern.
It is not yet clear whether Apple will follow the U.S. government's advice or continue testing the Chinese chips. Apple has not made any public statement about its final decision.
This story highlights how tightly technology, business and politics are now connected. A choice about a small chip inside a phone can become part of a much bigger international disagreement.
Vocabulary8 words
- memory chip
- a small electronic part that stores information
- CXMT
- a Chinese company that makes memory chips
- Wall Street Journal
- a major newspaper that reports on business news
- technology
- tools and machines made using science
- component
- one part of a bigger machine or product
- supplier
- a company that provides parts or products to another company
- competition
- when groups try to do better than each other
- security
- safety, especially for a country or its information
Quiz
Answer key
1. Chinese memory chips for its devices 2. It worries about depending on Chinese technology 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Apple is reportedly testing _____ made by a Chinese company called _____ for use in its iPhones and MacBooks.
However, the U.S. government has urged Apple not to buy these chips, worried about depending on Chinese _____.
Memory chips are key _____ inside phones and computers that store information devices need to work.
Most major phone and computer makers rely on a small number of chip _____ around the world.
This effort is part of a wider _____ between the U.S. and China over technology.
The U.S. has placed limits on some Chinese technology companies before, for reasons connected to national _____.
It is not yet clear whether Apple will follow the U.S. government's advice or continue testing the Chinese chips.
Discussion questions
- Why might a government want to control which chips a private company uses?
- Do you think Apple should follow the U.S. government's advice? Why or why not?
- How does technology competition between countries affect everyday products like phones?
- What could happen if a company like Apple depends on only one country for important parts?