iPhone 16

Jakarta banned the sale of the firm's latest smartphone in October for failing to comply with rules requiring the use of locally made components.

The move could be part of the U.S. tech giant's strategy to lift a government-imposed sales ban on its latest model.

Middle powers with rapidly growing economies feel they have more bargaining power than they once did – and some are not afraid to use it.

Jakarta seems determined to use the leverage it enjoys as the world's fourth-largest smartphone market to extract maximum benefits from the U.S. tech giant.