Singapore to probe wrongdoing but won’t police all supply chains: PM Wong

The government says it will investigate and enforce rules against illegal trade.  

The government will not allow Singapore to be used as a channel for illegal trade, but it is unrealistic to trace and verify the entire supply chain of every product passing through the country, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.

“If there is credible evidence of wrongdoing, we will investigate, and we will take action,” he told the National Day Rally on 23 August. “But we must also be realistic about what Singapore can do on our own.”

The comments come as the US raises concerns about Chinese goods being routed through other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, to evade tariffs.

Wong said established rules of origin already govern international trade and that goods cannot simply be routed through another country to disguise their actual origin.

“Singapore takes both issues seriously. We have clear rules and laws in place. We enforce them, and we expect companies operating here to comply,” he added.

The Republic will continue engaging the US and explaining its position.

The US has also called on countries to have domestic measures preventing the import of goods made with forced labour.

Wong said Singapore agreed that forced labour should not be tolerated, but argued that the issue should be addressed through international cooperation and common standards rather than tariffs.

“Trade is no longer as free as it once was. Trade is no longer about economics alone. It is increasingly shaped by security considerations,” he added.