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SINGAPORE – The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) urged Washington to steer clear of trade measures that could disrupt deeply intertwined supply chains that benefit the two nations, in a statement shared on April 16. <\/p>\n
It warned that unilateral tariffs and other import restrictions could backfire, raising costs and disrupting supply chains for US companies using Singapore as a regional base and logistic node.<\/p>\n
The statement was issued in its formal feedback to the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding two investigations \u2013 one on industrial overcapacity and the other on imports made with forced labour.<\/p>\n
SBF said Singapore\u2019s acts, policies and practices are neither \u201cunreasonable\u201d nor \u201cdiscriminatory\u201d, and do not \u201cburden or restrict\u201d US commerce.<\/p>\n
Its chief executive officer Kok Ping Soon said Singapore\u2019s investments support over 250,000 American jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the US administration to recognise our shared commitment to fair, market-oriented trade, and to avoid measures that would disrupt the deeply intertwined supply chains that benefit both our nations,\u201d Mr Kok said.<\/p>\n
The federation \u2013 which represents over 34,000 companies and advocates for Singapore businesses in areas of trade, investments and industrial relations \u2013 stressed that the United States enjoys a trade surplus and extensive investments links with the Republic under the more than two-decade-old US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. <\/p>\n
Prepared in consultation with 10 Singapore-based trade associations and chambers, SBF position papers highlighted that the US runs a \u201csubstantial and growing\u201d overall trade surplus with Singapore that widened to about US$33.3 billion in 2025, from about US$27 billion (S$34.3 billion) in 2024. <\/p>\n
This contradicts claims that Singapore\u2019s practices disadvantaged US commerce.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The 10 associates and chambers included the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Singapore, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. <\/p>\n SBF also pointed out that about 6,600 US companies operate in Singapore, with extensive two-way investment and integration across supply chains.<\/p>\n On the investigation into structural excess capacity, SBF said Singapore\u2019s manufacturing sector was \u201cdemand-led and commercially driven\u201d, shaped by market discipline and high operating costs that discourage below-cost pricing and state-directed overproduction.<\/p>\n SBF stressed that much of Singapore\u2019s trade reflects its role as a global hub, and entrepot and re-export activities should be distinguished from domestic overproduction.<\/p>\n