How businesses can prepare for cross-border disputes before they happen
One way is to discuss beforehand how to manage disputes when they arise.
At Singapore Convention Week 2026, industry leaders emphasized the importance of anticipating and addressing cross-border disputes before they occur. The number of components in a single aircraft, up to 10 million, and the complexity of global supply chains present numerous potential points of failure. Anand Stanley, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific, highlighted supply chain risk as a significant challenge for cross-border businesses.
Law Minister Edwin Tong stressed that business contracts are becoming larger and involve multiple parties across different jurisdictions. He advocated mediation as a means to resolve disputes while preserving relationships, suggesting that businesses should discuss mediation options before signing contracts. The Singapore Convention on Mediation (SCM), which entered into force in 2019, provides a uniform framework for enforcing mediated settlement agreements across borders, with 60 signatories and 24 contracting parties as of September 2026.
Singapore is also making efforts to enhance international dispute resolution, such as hosting a proposed Multilateral Investment Tribunal and establishing a new Centre for Arbitration and International Dispute Resolution. Companies expanding across borders face challenges in adapting to change, but experts encourage businesses to embrace these changes as opportunities for growth.
Staying prepared for unpredictable circumstances, including potential disputes, is crucial, as is discussing mediation options before contracts are signed.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
