Indonesia Approves Local Certificates for iPhone 16 Sales

Indonesia's government has issued local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the iPhone 16, which moves the tech giant closer to lifting its sales ban in the country. This development follows a lengthy negotiation process over Apple's compliance with regulations that require at least 40% of smartphone components to be locally sourced. Although the certificates have been granted, Apple must still secure additional approvals from various ministries before resuming sales. The ban on the iPhone 16, which began in October 2024, stemmed from Apple's initial failure to meet local investment commitments, leading to negotiations that resulted in a $150 million investment deal for new facilities in Indonesia. Industry officials emphasized the importance of these regulations for boosting domestic manufacturing and attracting foreign investment. Meanwhile, similar bans have been placed on other brands, including Google Pixel phones, for non-compliance with local sourcing requirements.