The US has removed CXMT and YMTC from its blacklist, allowing their NAND and DRAM to be supplied to the country.
US Export Controls: How the “Black List” Works and What Changed This Week
In the United States, responsibility for export restrictions is distributed among several agencies. The Department of Defense (DoD) participates in this process by publishing a list of foreign companies suspected of ties to China’s defense sector.
1. What Is the Pentagon’s “Black List”?
- Target – Companies whose technologies could support China’s military industry.
- Format – A special DoD file called *1260H*, updated weekly and published publicly.
2. What Happened With Chinese Memory Manufacturers?
| Company | Market Role | Latest Change |
|---|---|---|
| CXMT (China Memory Technologies) | Leading DRAM producer | Removed from the list early this week |
| YMTC (Yangtze Memory Technologies) | One of five largest NAND producers | Also removed |
Both firms are in the spotlight because their memory is widely used in AI system infrastructure. Beyond standard DRAM and NAND, they work on HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and develop proprietary memory types that could replace existing solutions. This makes CXMT and YMTC nearly universal suppliers for the AI industry.
3. Why Were Companies Removed?
- Memory shortage: A global chip scarcity has forced Western manufacturers to consider buying from Chinese firms.
- Business interests: Removing restrictions allowed U.S. companies to legally use CXMT and YMTC memory. Their removal can be seen as a compromise between national security and economic needs.
4. Other Companies on the List
| Company | Sector | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Alibaba (cloud computing) | Cloud services platform | Suspected of aiding Chinese military |
| Baidu | Search engine and AI | Same as Alibaba |
| BYD | Electric vehicle and battery manufacturer | Blocked as a potential source of tech for the armed industry |
| TP‑Link | Network equipment | Expected to collect data on U.S. users |
The 1260H list now includes over 130 companies suspected of ties to China’s military sector.
5. Company Reactions
Alibaba and Baidu officially appealed to U.S. authorities, claiming no connection to Chinese defense projects. In response to the removal of CXMT and YMTC from the DoD list, the manufacturers have not yet issued public comments.
6. Takeaways
- Removed companies: CXMT and YMTC are now available to the Western market unless new restrictions arise from the Department of Commerce.
- New list: Includes traditional tech giants (Alibaba, Baidu), automakers (BYD), and network equipment makers (TP‑Link).
- Overall context: Export controls remain a dynamic area where national security intersects with global supply chains.
Asted Cloud
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