Indonesia plans to start collecting levies from coal miners in January to be used to compensate miners who sell coal to the state utility at lower prices, the mining minister said on Tuesday.
Electronics worth a year-high $74 million, such as solar panels and microchips mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam, were denied entry in the United States in September or were checked for components from forced labour in China, official data show.
Indonesia and the U.S. are exploring a potential partnership for minerals and metals, particularly those used in the production of electric vehicle batteries, such as nickel. The discussions occurred during President Joko Widodo’s visit to the US in mid-November in which both countries committed to elevating the U.S.-Indonesia partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Amid evolving dynamics in Asia’s supply chain and labor markets, extensive discussions have unfolded regarding the notable shift of manufacturing operations to Southeast Asian countries. While much of this discourse has traditionally centered around foreign companies relocating from China in pursuit of cost-effective alternatives, a compelling aspect often overlooked is the surge in such endeavors by Chinese corporations themselves.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith on November 17 confirmed that until now, Laos is ready for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024.
Indonesia on November 21 launched an investment plan to attract 20 billion USD pledged by the US and Japan in a renewable energy transition pact agreed last year for the archipelago to slash emissions and wean itself off coal.
Laos is making efforts to increase electricity exports to neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia and promoting the development of renewables, with the hope of becoming "the battery of Southeast Asia" in the near future.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bank Indonesia (BI) have freshly debuted a cross-border quick response (QR) payment linkage between the two nations.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
