S’pore does not support ‘cheating’ on tariffs, in talks with US on trade probes: DPM Gan
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on his recent trip to the US.
Singapore has voiced its objections to the US' recent trade investigations during a meeting with US officials, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. During the discussion, DPM Gan addressed the Section 301 investigations, which involve a 12.5% tariff on some Singapore exports imposed by the US on July 24. This measure was taken after Washington concluded that Singapore had not enforced a ban on imports of goods produced with forced labor, a claim Singapore has denied.
Additionally, the US flagged Singapore as an "opportunistic target" for routing China-made goods to bypass US tariffs, according to a separate report from the White House. DPM Gan emphasized that Singapore does not use forced labor and that it frowns upon such labor practices. He also stressed that Singapore is a major trading hub and that addressing forced-labor products in international trade requires international cooperation.
The two sides are currently discussing a practical solution that would address US concerns while preserving Singapore's preferential tariff treatment. Singapore has also confirmed that it does not support using its shipment hubs to circumvent tariffs, as it considers this to be "cheating."
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