Indonesia, Apple Near Deal to End iPhone 16 Sales Ban

Indonesia is nearing a resolution to lift the ban on iPhone 16 sales, which has been in effect since October 2024 due to Apple's failure to meet local content requirements. Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached within one to two weeks, as negotiations have progressed on an investment package from Apple. The government had previously rejected Apple's proposals, including a $1 billion investment to build an AirTag factory, because they did not address local component sourcing rules, which require at least 40% of parts to be made in Indonesia. The resolution of this dispute is significant for Apple, as Indonesia represents a substantial market with a population of 280 million. The outcome of the negotiations could pave the way for the resumption of iPhone 16 sales, marking a potential end to the year-long ban. Apple has previously engaged with the local community through application developer academies since 2018.