Gov’t not expecting to be on US direct tariffs ‘hit list’

However, it said Singapore will be impacted indirectly if there is any friction.

The Singaporean government said that tariffs and emerging tariffs are a reality in the future but does not anticipate being on the United States (US) direct tariffs hit list.

Answering parliamentary questions on Singapore-US relations, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said that in 2019, then-Prime Minister Lee and President Donald Trump signed the Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding regarding United States use of facilities in Singapore (1990 MoU).

This extended the MoU by 15 years and underscored Singapore's strong bilateral defence relationship and support for the US strategic presence in the region.

“However, as trade constitutes more than three times our gross domestic products, we will be impacted indirectly if there is any friction,” Balakrishnan said.

The minister called for members of the House to recognise that the government still needs to keep calm and be careful in talking and behaving.

“But I need to prepare Singaporeans for a turbulent ride in the months or years to come,” Balakrishnan added.