Indonesia bans sales of Google’s Pixel smartphones, days after blocking Apple’s iPhone 16

Domestic sales of Google’s Pixel smartphones were blocked because the company has not met Indonesia’s rules that call for certain handsets sold in the country to contain at least 40 per cent of locally made parts.

“We are pushing these rules so that there’s fairness for all investors in Indonesia,” Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Industry, said on Thursday. “Google’s products have not adhered to the scheme we set, so they can’t be sold here.”

Febri said consumers can buy Google’s Pixel smartphone overseas, so long as they pay the necessary taxes, adding that the country would consider deactivating the handsets that are illicitly sold.

Google did not immediately respond to a message and email requesting comment.