United States — United States Department of Defense & Tim Cook

United States — United States Department of Defense: The United States — United States Department of Defense blacklisted Yangtze Memory Technologies due to alleged ties to the Chinese military, creating the primary obstacle for Apple Inc.'s procurement plans. The department's actions highlight the national security concerns driving U.S. trade restrictions on Chinese technology firms.

Tim Cook: Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., has publicly stated that Apple Inc. had no choice but to raise prices due to soaring memory chip costs and hinted at the company's interest in sourcing chips from Chinese firms if approved. He is a key figure in Apple Inc.'s lobbying efforts.