JAKARTA - The United States government is reportedly considering banning the use of Chinese-made memory on government-owned devices. The new rules introduced by the current administration could potentially ban RAM from Chinese companies being installed in computers, mobile phones, and other hardware used by federal agencies.
This move comes amid a global shortage of RAM supplies triggered by a surge in demand for AI data centers. Giant data centers stock up, while the world's three largest memory manufacturers prioritize enterprise customers. In the gap, Chinese manufacturers were considered as alternatives for the consumer market, even government devices. The logic is simple: when stocks are depleted, the supply is still a supply.
However, the latest discourse shows a different direction. If the rule is enacted, government devices should no longer use memory from Chinese companies. Names such as SMIC, CXMT, and YMTC are mentioned in the draft ban.
This proposal was submitted by the FAR Council and is currently still in the discussion stage. The rules are open to public comment until April 20, 2026, so the final decision has not been made. Even so, observers consider this kind of ban not a surprise, given the previous restrictions on various Chinese origin technologies.
The impact could be widespread. The US government is a large buyer of hardware from global brands such as HP and Dell. If government contracts prohibit the use of Chinese memory, device manufacturers may have to separate production lines or even avoid purchasing the memory at all. On an industrial scale, purchasing decisions are not only about price, but also volume and supply chain efficiency.
On the other hand, if manufacturers can't use Chinese memory for government contracts, they may be reluctant to buy it in large quantities just for the consumer segment. That could affect the price and availability of products on the general market. In other words, a policy that seems specific to government devices could indirectly affect laptops and mobile phones sold to the public.
Geopolitically, the issue adds to a long list of technological tensions between Washington and Beijing. Memory is not just a passive component; it is a vital part of modern digital infrastructure, from AI to cloud computing. As chips become a tool of diplomacy, every RAM module turns into a pawn in the global technology chess game.
The final decision is still pending regulatory processes and public input. But one thing is clear: in an era where data is the new oil, even a piece of memory can become a national security issue.
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