technologySunday, August 30, 20262 sources

CXMT Sues U.S. Department of Defense Over Blacklist Designation

Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense, challenging its designation on the military support enterprise list. The company claims it has no connection to the Chinese military and faces reputational and business damage. The U.S. government's blacklist, based on the National Defense Authorization Act, restricts contracts with listed companies.

On August 30, 2026, CXMT, a Chinese memory chip manufacturer, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Federal District Court in Washington against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The lawsuit seeks the cancellation of CXMT's designation on the military support enterprise list, which bars direct and indirect contracts with the company. CXMT stated it is not a defense contractor and has no ties to the Chinese military, asserting that the designation has harmed its business and reputation since January 2025. The U.S. Department of Defense has been compiling the blacklist under the National Defense Authorization Act, targeting companies owned or controlled by the Chinese military or deemed to support military policy. Apple has been purchasing CXMT's memory chips due to rising memory prices, despite the blacklist. The case is part of a broader trend of Chinese tech firms challenging Pentagon blacklists in U.S. courts, with recent rulings showing judicial willingness to scrutinize the government's evidence. The sources agree on the lawsuit and the context of the blacklist but diverge on the specifics of Apple's involvement and the broader implications of the legal challenges.

Timelines

US-China Strategic Competition

Sources

IndependentThe Dong-a IlboAug 30, 07:30 PM
CXMT Sues U.S. Department of Defense Over Blacklist Designation

China-based memory company Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense, which listed the company on its military support enterprise list (blacklist). Bloomberg reported on the 29th (local time) that CXMT recently filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Federal District Court in Washington, suing the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, demanding the cancellation of the blacklist designation. In a statement following the lawsuit, CXMT stated, "CXMT is not a defense contractor and has no connection with the Chinese military." It also said, "Since being designated as a target of sanctions in January 2025, CXMT has continuously suffered damage to its reputation and business." The U.S. Department of Defense has been compiling a list of companies owned or controlled by the Chinese military, or deemed to contribute to military policy and strategy, based on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The U.S. Department of Defense has been prohibiting direct contracts with companies on the blacklist, and also pushing for restrictions on indirect transactions. Recently, Apple has been verifying and purchasing CXMT's memory performance due to the sharp rise in memory prices.

IndependentSouth China Morning PostAug 30, 01:46 PM
CXMT joins growing list of Chinese tech firms suing US Pentagon over blacklists

Leading chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has joined a growing list of Chinese technology companies suing the US government over their additions to Pentagon blacklists, as legal experts said US courts had shown a willingness to hold the Department of Defence to account. Recent rulings involving Chinese tech firms including lidar sensor maker Hesai Group, drone manufacturer DJI and biotech firm WuXi AppTec indicated that judges were prepared to scrutinise the US government’s evidence...