On January 9, 2025, the Lao official gazette published the newly amended Decision on Trade Inspection Implementation No. 0019/MOIC, dated January 6, 2025. This decision aims to establish principles and rules for trade officers to inspect, fine, and take measures against violators of trade laws and their related regulations on business competition, business operations, and intellectual property rights to protect consumers and business operators in Laos. Changes in Trade Inspection Procedures Previously, trade inspection officers, operating independently under the central Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) or the provincial-level Department of Industry and Commerce (DOIC), were responsible for administrative raid actions focusing exclusively on intellectual property issues. However, following the enactment of Decision No. 0019/MOIC, trade inspection officers will now be grouped into the Trade Officers Unit, which will also include business competition officers and consumer protection officers. This unit will conduct and participate in raids, considering not only intellectual property laws but also competition and consumer protection laws when imposing penalties on infringers. Trade Inspection Authority Levels Trade inspection implementation is overseen by authorities at three levels: Central level: Department of Business Competition and Trade Inspection, MOIC. The MOIC handles trade inspection work covering all provinces in Laos. Provincial level: DOIC offices in provinces and Vientiane handle trade inspections covering two or more districts. District level: Office of the Industry and Commerce offices in districts. Violations Individuals, legal entities, and organizations violating the newly amended trade inspection decision, the Decree on Trade Inspection, or other related regulations will be educated about the issue, warned, disciplined (for government servants), fined, subject to compensation for damage incurred, or punished by the relevant laws, depending on the gravity of the violation. Trade Violations Violations of trade laws and regulations concerning business operations will result in fines and additional measures. Examples include:

Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has issued a royal decree placing the business of hire purchase and leasing of cars and motorcycles under the scope of the Financial Institution Business Act B.E. 2551 (2008), effective December 2, 2025. This is to ensure appropriate regulatory oversight of these business activities, as they function similarly to credit granting and serve as a source of funding for the public with a broad impact on the overall economic system and consumers at large. The business operators that this royal decree applies to include corporate entities engaging regularly in the business of hire purchase or leasing of cars or motorcycles, currently excluding: Financial institutions and specialized financial institutions. Individuals operating such businesses (noncorporate entities). Cooperatives. Key regulatory obligations of this royal decree include the following: Business operators must disclose interest rates, service fees, and other relevant business information to the public and report to the Bank of Thailand (BOT). Business operators must display how the annual percentage rate (APR), including all annual charges covering interest and service fees, is calculated. Business operators must maintain accurate accounting records in accordance with recognized accounting standards. The BOT may issue warnings or suspend operations if business operators fail to comply with this royal decree or act unfairly in a way that may result in serious harm to customers. Directors, managers, and responsible persons of any business operator that violates this royal decree may also be subject to the prescribed penalties. Before the royal decree takes effect, business operators should conduct internal assessments and engage with counsel to prepare for regulatory implementation. The BOT is expected to issue further subordinate regulations and guidance regarding: Interest, service fees, deposits, collateral, benefits, and penalties that may be charged by business operators. Contract content, methods of benefit calculation, and format in conducting

Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce has established new regulatory measures for importing electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a pilot project running from January 2025 to March 31, 2026, while the Ministry of Planning and Finance has reduced customs duty rates for fuel-powered vehicles manufactured domestically under semi-knocked down (SKD) and completely knocked down (CKD) systems, effective June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Importation of EVs On May 29, 2025, Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) issued an announcement regarding the importation of EVs from abroad as part of its pilot project, detailed in MOC Notification No. 40/2025. The MOC notification establishes the following regulatory measures to support the development of EVs and related businesses: Approval must be obtained from the National-Level Steering Committee for the Development of Electric Vehicles and Related Enterprises. A registration certificate for an EV sales showroom must be secured. Vehicles must be imported in accordance with the permitted number and standards defined by the National-Level Steering Committee for the Development of Electric Vehicles and Related Enterprises. The importing company must provide necessary arrangements for warranties on imported EVs, spare parts, and after-sales services. For companies wishing to open a sales showroom, the following requirements apply: The company must be a registered national or joint venture entity with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration. The company must be officially appointed as a distributorship or dealership by the original company or regional office for each brand. A permit from the respective state or regional government and a business license from the respective Municipal Committee must be obtained. The company must provide evidence of tax clearance issued by the Internal Revenue Department. Standards for the showroom, building, and warehouse, as issued periodically by the MOC, must be adhered to, including: Compound area: 10,000 square feet (the total

As from July 1, 2025, as part of its ongoing efforts to digitalize and streamline the delivery of public services, the Vietnamese government will officially conduct administrative procedures, both online and offline, only via electronic identity (“e-ID”) accounts on the VNeID platform. In particular: Online administrative procedures carried out via the National Public Service Portal or via information systems for administrative procedures at the ministerial or provincial level are required to be implemented by using e-ID accounts only. When receiving dossiers, authorities will be required to check and verify the e-IDs of companies or individuals responsible for conducting administrative procedures. Further, it is worth noting that to complete the registration of an e-ID account for a company, the legal representative of the company must hold a level-2 e-ID account. Compliance Considerations Vietnam’s first regulation of e-ID accounts for individuals and organizations was issued in Decree No. 59/2022/ND-CP dated September 5, 2022, on electronic authentication and identification. This decree was subsequently replaced by Decree No. 69/2024/ND-CP dated June 25, 2024, which governs the same matters. Registration and operation of e-ID accounts are centralized through VNeID, a digital ID app developed by the National Population Data Center under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. Although the registration of e-ID accounts for companies is not explicitly mandated by law, the absence of an e-ID account may hinder companies from completing administrative procedures, including licensing and reporting obligations. Such non-compliance could consequently result in administrative penalties. To mitigate unexpected non-compliance and administrative fines due to the lack of an e-ID account, companies should be well prepared for and implement the registration of a company e-ID account as soon as possible.