SINGAPORE: Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has raised the impact of America’s tariffs and export controls with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said these were not directed at Singapore.
“But nevertheless, there is a lot of work in the next few months to ensure that there are no adverse secondary impacts on Singapore, so we will have to continue to engage the administration very, very closely in the months ahead,” said Dr Balakrishnan in a statement after they met on June 4.
Dr Balakrishnan is in Washington, DC, on a working visit. He and Rubio had a “substantive and wide-ranging discussion” on bilateral ties and international developments, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
It added that Dr Balakrishnan registered the impact of the US’ tariff policy on Singapore as a small and open economy that is highly dependent on trade, and the Republic’s commitment to constructive engagement with the US to find mutually beneficial arrangements, including on pharmaceutical exports.
In May, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said preferential or even zero tariffs on Singapore’s pharmaceutical exports to the US are a possible concession that has emerged in ongoing talks between the countries.
However, the secondary impact has already hit the Republic, with Singapore’s factory activity contracting for a second month in May off the back of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs continuing to threaten the global economic outlook.
The majority of Trump’s sweeping global tariffs have been paused for 90 days, with the pause expected to expire at the start of July. On June 4, Trump signed an order to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.
During their meeting, Dr Balakrishnan and Rubio also reaffirmed the longstanding and substantive bilateral relationship between the two countries in traditional areas of the economy, defence and security, as well as emerging areas such as critical technologies, energy and artificial intelligence.
MFA said they also discussed other potential areas for collaboration, such as the 2026 US Group of 20 presidency and how Singapore can contribute to the US’ priorities in meaningful and practical ways.
In a separate statement, a spokesperson for Rubio said he reaffirmed the strength of the US-Singapore strategic partnership and both countries’ shared commitment to a “safe, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”.
Dr Balakrishnan is on a working visit to London and Washington, DC, from June 3 to 7, aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation in traditional and emerging areas of mutual interest.
His visit to Washington, DC – where he will meet senior administration officials, members of Congress and other senior personalities – is the first ministerial visit from Singapore to the US following both governments’ new terms in office.
He will also participate in a fireside chat hosted by US think-tank Hudson Institute, to discuss how the US can deepen engagement with Singapore and the region. - The Straits Times/ANN
