Batteries beyond borders: international law, ASEAN, and the extraterritorial effect of EU battery regulation

This article examines the extraterritorial effect of the European Union Regulation 2023/1542 governing batteries and waste batteries. The Regulation aims to reduce environmental and social impacts across the battery life cycle while ensuring the advancement of circular economy goals. The article situates the Regulation within selected international frameworks and evaluates its implications for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations energy architecture. It examines how the Regulation’s extraterritorial effect influences regional energy governance by addressing its interaction with international law, its potential to facilitate harmonisation, and the mechanisms required to ensure equitable and effective implementation across jurisdictions.